Where has it all gone wrong

For five hours, the Australian bowlers could dismiss only one tailend batsman and South Africa turned a potential 150-run deficit into a 65-run lead before going on to record a series-clinching win at the MCG.

Where do you think Australia has gone wrong?

Are they simply not good enough? Is Ricky Ponting's captaincy too defensive? Or does the problem start at the top with the selectors?

Give The Tonk your suggestion as to where Australian cricket should go from here.

Posted
by EdDecember 28, 2008 11:02 PM

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Australia have been delsuional for the past 1 year or so - they were very lucky to beat India earler this year in Australia] and have since been thrashed in India.
They have to accept the fact that India and SA are the the world leaders - the sooner they accept this fact, the sooner the redemption!

Posted by: Ananth on December 29, 2008 12:09 AM

Credit should go to Duminy, Steyne and Harris. They were simply fantastic. Australia really struggled without their 3rd quick, in Brett Lee. He is definately down on form no doubt and I'm not sure that he would have broken through himself, but his presence would have taken a lot of heat off Johnson and Siddle.

The biggest problem that I can see with the Aussies moving forward is in the bowling dept. You have to take 20 wickets to win a test match, and at present, it doesn't look like that is going to happen. We really missed Stuart Clark today. It's obvious to say we miss Warne and McGrath, and though that is true, you can't play forever and they have retired, so we have to focus on who is available.

Ben Hilfenhaus must play in the next Test in place of Brett Lee. Lee needs a break for a while. As far as the spin option goes, i'm at a loss to know what is the best way forward there. Hauritz is a tighter bowler than Krezja, but he bowled too quickly today for mine, which is maybe an insight into why he didn't leak a heap of runs. Against the tail, surely you can throw it up, reduce your speeds, to try to entice the big swipe from a tailender - widen his eyes.

Having said that, the spin cupboard is bare, and i'd rather we stick with someone for a while, to hopefully give that someone the confidence needed to grow into the team and to begin to deliver strong and consistent performances.

But that's then and this is now. With the right attitude and application, Australia can still position themselves for a final day surge to victory. What happened today is consigned to the record books and can't be changed. Now, the Aussies need to focus on days 4 and 5. Win both of these days and who knows what is possible.

C'mon boys - LIFT!

Posted by: Shorty on December 29, 2008 12:24 AM

"Can't bat, can't bowl, can't field"

Posted by: Daz on December 29, 2008 12:55 AM

could somebody please explain to Ponting the concept of setting a field that allows the bowlers to attack the stumps, thus enacting the lbw law, as opposed to forcing them to bowl a line at off stump.
has there ever been a game at the G which produced barely an appeal for lbw.

Posted by: stuart on December 29, 2008 1:05 AM

The problem is 100% due to pathetic captaincy by Ricky Ponting. He simlpy inherited the best team and transformed it into conflict prone sub groups.

Blaming Brett Lee wont help Ponting to avoid the blame. He simply failed to bring sufficient bowling change even with the available options. Pushing the good bowlers to extra lengths does nothing but to fatigue them and concede more runs.

What has the team done with the bat? Consistently the batsmen have failed to put up enough runs on the scoreboard and the poor bolwers are left to defend potentially easy targets.

Selectors need to overhaul the team. Get rid of Ponting, Hayden, Hussey and bring in new talent. We may loose a couple of more games (which we would loose under Ponting anyway) but the guys would get experience and would keep the team together.

Posted by: Ali Syed on December 29, 2008 1:07 AM

There is no doubt that Australian selectors had no respect for their opposition. They thought they could create fairytale sendoffs for the elders in the team and it distracted them from picking their strongest team. Or is that the best Australia has to offer?

Posted by: Jacob on December 29, 2008 1:13 AM

who cares where it went wrong. australia has used the good fortune of having a couple of very consistently successful bowlers to bring the game of game of cricket into disrepute through the most unsportsmanlike and arrogant behaviour ever witnessed in the history of the game. and the ex-captain's brag of "mental disintegration" as euphemism for verbal abuse should be a mark of national shame. whatever has happened, the game of cricket is the most important beneficiary. the dark days are gone.

Posted by: muk0le on December 29, 2008 1:16 AM

Yesterday was one of the most disgraceful days in the history of Australian test cricket.
One is tempted to blame a captain whose chronic timidity and general lack of leadership has for long been masked by having at his command, in Warne and McGrath, two of the best bowlers the world has ever seen.
However, that would be to let off the hook, the real culprit, Andrew Hilditch. The chairman of selectors must take prime responsibility for the long years of neglect in bringing forward new, fresh talent into the Test side. He has squandered the good years and the fact that he has allowed the average age of our national team to approach that of a half-pensioner is now having its inevitable result. Two leading members of the current team have not been able to play their full part due to injury and, with the likelihood of at least four retiring within the next year or so with no heir apparents in sight, we are staring down the barrel of a gun at a very bleak future indeed in international cricket.
Hilditch should be booted out NOW and replaced by a younger, more energetic and, above all, a more thrusting and dynamic chairman of selectors who will not be afraid to experiment with young players - just as South Africa have done with Jean-Paul Duminy!

Posted by: David Samuel on December 29, 2008 1:21 AM

This australian side still lives in the past when their bowlers had the capability of bowling out the opposition twice within 4 days of a test match and the batsman were capable of putting up a big enough score to ensure that they didn't have to too much worj in the 2nd innings.

The retired players cannot be replaced, but the new members/palyers will have to just find/earn their place in the team and should be able to execute the team plan. Easier said than done, however, this is where the captian plays a huge role in ensuring that their is continuity and everybody knows and executes the role.

Just by playing the game the way it should be played and not worrying way too much about their rankings etc etc, they can surely bounce back and square the series

Posted by: Venkat on December 29, 2008 1:23 AM

Give credit to the Proteas. They believe they are better and are showing it. The Aussie attack is now mediocre at best.. ask, who is truly world class? Hauritz? Siddle? They are no Warne and McGrath, so such days will happen. We need to accept that.

Posted by: chipnputt on December 29, 2008 1:24 AM

Australia has a weak bowling attack.
Aging players.

Cliche but true. A captain 'looks' as good as his team.

Australia were the world champs coz they had fabulous players on the field. Contribution of captain, though important, was not 'the' determining factor .

SA clearly Dumiy-ated the proceedings.

Posted by: RANJAN on December 29, 2008 1:27 AM

The writing has been on the wall since 2005 series in England. But the selectors were too timid to make the necessary changes. Instead of introducing youth they opted to keep verterans. In the meantime they have bowled Bing into the dirt.
I wonder if there will be a team photo with the four selectors? :)

Posted by: David on December 29, 2008 1:28 AM

Well ive never been a fan of Ponting's captaincy. I think his over-reliance on McGrath/Warne has resulted in him setting these defensive fields. But i still dont get it, firstly, why is he setting these defensive fields to tailenders? Why is he spreading the slip cordon out? Its reasonably understandable if say there were Mark Waugh's in there, but he isnt and so catches are being dropped because the slips need to cover more ground. Another thing, with the slips being more spread out, he still doesnt put a 3rd man in!! Ive lost count how many runs go in that region! Another one, he needs to have more attacking fields for spinners, it'll give em confidence (same with slips being in place for the seamers) and with Hauritz being so accurate, whats the point of having fieldsmen in run saving positions and on the boundary? have catchers! And is it just me, or is Ponting always about 3 overs behind the game, he changes bowlers to late, field placings are after the ball has gone through there, etc etc.
Then theres the selections, 2 main selections have annoyed me, not so much Hayden and Lee, but the selection of Symonds ahead of is a joke, Symonds has no form, and c ant bowl, while Watson was our best bowler in India, is in career best bowling form, and with our bowling stocks low, still cant ge into the side with Symonds injured and not even playin as an all-rounder, Symonds the protected, arrogant species, must go. And please, pick a spinner and stick to him!!!

Posted by: jarrod on December 29, 2008 1:32 AM

Ricky is not the only reason. " A captain is as good as his team " is a cliche coz it is true :-) and hence is appropriately repeated.

Real reason is a weak bowling attack.

Australia - will have to find a few replacements both in bowling and batting.

Today, SA Duminy-ated the proceedings.

With India and SA playing well , would be interesting to havea 3 way run to the the top in 2009-10 seasons. :-)

Posted by: ranjan on December 29, 2008 1:36 AM

I guess most of us are loathe to state the obvious. Ponting has lost it. He is a pathetic captain. This fact remained hidden when he had Warne, McGrath, Gillespie and a firing Lee in the ranks. Just when the team needed a good captain, we are stuck with a lemon. Terrible captaincy on the India tour and a pathetic lack of imagination today. The sooner we realize the obvious, the better for Australia

Posted by: Jay S on December 29, 2008 1:41 AM

Ponting used to handle a much stronger side. now he is having difficulties in handling an average side if not weak. i think main problem lies in captaincy. replace ponting with M. Clarke. keep punter as a batsman, remove hayden from top of the list with Symonds (like india did with Sehwag). Prefer watson over symonds as an allrounder and keep symonds as a batsman only. play your 4 best bowlers doesn't matter if all of them are quickies.

Posted by: Bikram Pratap Singh on December 29, 2008 1:42 AM

The problems relate to both the selectors & captain.
The Australian selectors again seem blind to the clear indications of age catching up with several top order batsmen. Hayden has been increasingly showing signs he;s lost the edge in muscle "twitch" needed to play good fast bowling. He'll still make good scores against lesser bowlers on slow pitches, just as Tubby Taylor did, but he's now 18 months past his use by date. Regretably Michael Hussey is now showing the same signs. Ponting is not foreman material. He seems to lack the essential flair needed to out think his opposition. This also shows in his batting where every bowler has worked him out, but he's been unable to adjust to their tactic which invaribly squares him up for an LBW or caught at 3rd slip. This happened predictably in the 1st innings & the selectors should note; what if Callas had been catching. What then for Australia's score?
Ponting plays favourites & has developed too much of a 'mates' cliche around him. Symonds was not fit to take into this test, so who insisted on picking him? I suspect it was Ponting, in which case the selectors should be sacked for their gutlessness in not exerting authority.
When the Ashes were regained, blind Freddie could see the dye was cast when Tait & Hilfenhaus got stuck right into them at Manika before the first test. Indeed Trescothic could get on the plane quick enough. Despite this, neither has had any real look in. I well recall the way Ponting played Tait out of the team in Perth by not bowling him until the conditions & ball were totally against him. I'd hate to see him do the same to Hilfenhaus too, as it appears he's not accepted by the inner sanctum either.
Our real problems exist in the top order, & it seems to me the captain likes a long batting tail to cover those failings. He's now stuck with the reality of not enough runs & his inability to take 20 wickets.

Posted by: Roland on December 29, 2008 2:01 AM

I hope they gag on their bloated egos.

They have about as much to do with sport as a circus freakshow.

Perhaps Australia should just start with a fresh XI, as this generation have nothing to offer.

Posted by: Benedict Pope on December 29, 2008 2:02 AM

I watched the game and have to say was truly disapointed in sundays day play.We dropped the batsmen to many times and made timely errors in the field.Cricket is a funny game and can change at the drop of a hat but i feel the selectors need to make some changes and maybe get rid of some older players and make way for the younger guys.now whether thats dropping ponting from captiancy and making clarke captain, or droping hayden and bringing some other new talent i think time is to act now.

Posted by: chad forrest on December 29, 2008 2:06 AM

The big names like Glen McGrath ,Shane Warne, Steve Waugh kept playing too long. So players 5 -8 years younger to these names lost their opportunity to show their talent at International levels . So these players continued in domestic cricket and blocked opportunities for the younger ones.

So Australia is paying the price for dominating world cricket too long. This the same fate like West Indies, who dominated in the 80s.Once their faces players left- it created a vacuum which is continuing.

So Australia will suffer for few more years . But they will recover.

Posted by: G.Jayaraman on December 29, 2008 2:07 AM

Listen - we can debate all day long on why Australia failed to deliver but the simple fact is that this Australian team thinks it is still on top of world cricket when they speak but they simply don't have the skills to execute. They have guys like Hayden who is 37 and at the fag end of his career, Symonds who cn't bowl because his knee is bad yet gets to play in the test, Siddle and Johnson are hardly world class strike bowlers who can perform consistently.This team is in trouble and while the upcoming teams like India and South Africa are producing young talents , Australia is looking to a bunch of guys in their mid 30's to shore them up.Accept it - your time at the top is ending, learn to change strategy

Posted by: MS on December 29, 2008 2:08 AM

Its not so much that Aus are being beaten by better team (which clearly SA are) - its the way its all unfolding. Ponting's unbelievable incompetence is now having dire consequences. He used to get away with it because he had brilliant players who needed no man-handling. Now we see him for who he is: someone who completely lacks any sense of creativity - who plays defensively when he he needs to attack - someone whose own temperament disables commonsense (what he did in India with the part-time bowlers was scandalous)... I could go on. Brilliant batsman - bloody terrible captain.

And dont get me started on the selectors. I'm tired of this 'club' mentality. The old boys club. Once youre in the door there's closing time... Symonds being selected for this test is just... New selectors ad a young team with a good captain. Do those things and I can take losing to better teams. We can all accept that building needs to be done.

Well done South Africa! Very very good side - and young too! A series between India and SA would be interesting

Posted by: christ... on December 29, 2008 2:09 AM

Why are certain players protected at the expense of the realisation that the Australian cricket team IS IN a period of transition to being a top 3 team?
In terms of performances, India has been knocking on heavens door and the Aussie pysche for the past few years. South Africa now fight the fight and cannot be moved.
In regard to this test:
Let's not mention why Symonds was even playing when INJURED and a BETTER alrounder has been carrying the drinks in the first 2 tests. It may or may not have made difference, but when Ponting has to turn to Hussey to try and contrive a wicket in an entire day, it's bordering on the mediocre!

Posted by: buzz on December 29, 2008 2:12 AM

Simply put, with the retirements of key ALL TIME players in the past few years, we are now a top 3 team. If we can't bowl out teams twice in 5 days, we cannot win.
Regardless, I'll be there for Day 1 Sydney test (for the past 15 years) loving the contest, desperate for a big score by the Aussie top order and HOPING for something special.

Posted by: buzz on December 29, 2008 2:19 AM

For once I agree with Peter Roebuck without reservation. Ponting had a poor day. Bowling changes were inexplicable. How could Katich not get a bowl in the circumstances? And the simple catch Ponting dropped will quite possibly cost the series. But the seeds of the dismal Day 3 were there before the game in the selections, particularly that of an unfit Symonds over a fit Watson, and the persistence with a horribly out of form Brett Lee. When are we going to start selecting players on fitness and form?

Posted by: bcat on December 29, 2008 2:31 AM

Looks like the two previous test series against India has really softened the Aussies up mentally and South Africa are moving in for the kill.

Mental disintegration at its best.

Posted by: Zubin Sethna on December 29, 2008 2:36 AM

I think Ricky ponting's captaincy is the main cause for this unacceptable situation. Reason for this is, he didn’t use Simon katich. A good captain knows his players strengths and weaknesses. Simon has proved he can be handy in the past. Second reason, is, he did not put pressure constantly by using his fast bowlers Sidle and Mitchell Johnson. Infact, he did not use them properly at all.
Arrogance of the captain and selfish mindset helped South Africans to take advantage of the situation. Also, top class batting from Duminy did not help Aussies either. So, it’s time for Ricky to take a good hard look at himself in the mirror and accept the fact that other teams also play cricket but in a more professional, appreciable manner than him. We have witnesses how bad; ugly was Sydney test early this year and also his crap tactics in Nagpur and Perth. I hope selectors do Australia a favor by removing Ricky from captaincy. I am sure their position is at jeopardy now. So I don’t expect to see that happening anytime soon. Because, Australia don’t have a captain to replace Ricky. Otherwise, they would have done this last year when Ricky was terribly out of form. They removed Steve Waugh when Steve failed just in couple of series. Back then Ricky was ready to take over a naturally talented team with Warnie and pigeon. Now, times have changed and a change of captaincy and youngsters in team will help to Australia to rebound. Andrew Symonds definitely doesn’t deserve a spot. Poor Shane Watson. I really feel sorry for him. Being such a talented all-rounder and done well in India, he is carrying drinks and witnessing a pathetic display.

Posted by: Blokeman on December 29, 2008 2:39 AM

Ricky Ponting will survive as captain (who else is there?) Australia will need more bowlers to take 20 wickets so Watson should replace the limping Andrew Symonds and maybe get Stuart Clarke in to replace Lee. Also depending on how Hayden bats today he might be out of the side as well. Being a selector for the australian team used to be a very easy job, now they've got some tough decisions to make.

Posted by: BigKev on December 29, 2008 3:07 AM

It is such a pity to see a strong Australian side fall down on its face and get dragged through the mud. They are being forced carrying 3-4 people in the side who are living on their reputations. Given that, Ponting is only dealing the cards he has been dealt. In fact, they remind me of the Indian side from a few years ago- looks great on paper but can be depended to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory!

Posted by: Krishnan on December 29, 2008 3:12 AM

i thought that the idea of bowling the spinners so early in the morning in an effort to get the new ball was a big mistake, it allow the batmen to score runs freely and gain confidence. the fast bowler who was bowling well should have been kept on.

Posted by: barney on December 29, 2008 3:16 AM

Things have gone wrong everywhere: team selection, planning, failure to recognize that it is not just bowling that is the problem - but also batting - look at the last11 innings starting from the 1st Test in India. How many scores of more than 400? Australian batsmen will not score (their bowlers are more reliable in batting?) and their bowlers cannot bowl out opposition.
To top it all, the team is shaken and devoid of all confidence.
Wont be surprized with a 0-3 loss.

Posted by: karpagam on December 29, 2008 3:19 AM

Australian arrogance! They came to the ground to bat, the mindset had few chances of tackling a south african resurgence. And that i solely blame the captain, he should have marshalled the troops according to the situation and handle the task at hand. Especially after seeing the see-saw-ness of the first test the aussies must have been better informed/prepared to tackle a line-up who chased down 414 in the 4th innings of the first test. There is absolutely no excuse for what unfolded today after the first test, not sure if this would have been possible under leadership of steve waugh or mark taylor. Pointing's ability to score when required is well admired, but his job doesnt end with the bat. He has to lead the side intelligently. Aussies have to stop talking about McGrath and Warne. These players have missed matches before and aussies have won without them, there is no difference now. New players have come and played and won them games that was the aussies people have come to recognise and expect. The key difference is the rest of the world have caught up and the aussies seem to be struggling.

Posted by: notanadmirer on December 29, 2008 3:20 AM

The problem clearly rests with selectors - the "old boys" club of mahogany alley. Don't pick the best team but rather the team that suits the sponsors' plans. Look at the players mostly used as the faces of cricket adverts - they are underperforming but still get selected. Wake up administrators and selectors - there is a real world out there. What is wrong with more than one fast leftie??!!

Posted by: Graeme Lewis on December 29, 2008 3:32 AM

Drop Hayden, Lee, Symonds (except ODIs) and Hauritz, bring in Hughes/Klinger/Watson, Hilfenhaus/Bollinger and Cullen and bat Hussey back at no.6 where he has an average of about 100.

Also, have one or two Australia vs Australia A 'friendlies' to use as a selection trial, that's where we found Hayden, Langer, Ponting and Bevan.

Posted by: Chris on December 29, 2008 3:39 AM

I don't think I can remember a more inept bowling performance in forty-five years of following the game from the Australian perspective. I would compare the current side with the imbroglio that surfaced as a result of the World Series Cricket fiasco when Kim Huhes was Captain in the 1970s. Dale Steyn is a batting bunny with an average of 9.85 after thirty odd innings;but today, he was made to look like something else. Good luck to Dale tough luck Australia. Time to start anew: remove the selection panel and sack the non-performing players. It is about time to spit the selection dummy and bring in a few new players.It isn't hard to list them.

Posted by: Peter fro Briz on December 29, 2008 4:04 AM

A era has ended, the old guard has retired & the young guns are still trying to find their feet. Lets watch the blame game commence with Ponting trying to defend his position as captain & make petty excusses for his sides bad form. Is it a coincedence that since the use of sledging has been frowned on by most other cricket nations forcing the Aussies to rely soley on their natural talent & less on their acid tongues their form has falted. Just a thought

Posted by: The Beck on December 29, 2008 4:12 AM

1: I think they should sack Ricky Ponting and get some fresh and more radical captaincy.
2: Australia needs to wake up and realise that they aren't ahead of the game anymore. They got punished by India, and now they're getting punished by SA.
3: The old timers aren't performing. The selectors should remove their biase and field good young talent in place of the old fogies.

Posted by: anon. on December 29, 2008 4:18 AM

It's pretty obvious. Punter's an "A" grade loser who has been lucky to have blokes like Warnie and McGrath and Gilly in his team. It makes captaincy so much easy doesn't it. Pretend that you did something right, the results are there and folks buy it. Now with them gone, it's quite clear what he is really made of. A totally un-imaginative captain, a cheat at heart with no moral fiber and a thorough unprofessional.

All is not bad though, the other teams love him :)

Posted by: Ranjan on December 29, 2008 4:31 AM

They should have put Hilfenhaus in the side. I still remember the way he swung the ball away from the England right handers. this would have been tough for the Jaapies to play

Posted by: Ron Wonson on December 29, 2008 4:42 AM

okay. Australia was a great team, probably is still a good team however, I think the problem is that Ricky Ponting has to step down as captain as he has been the death to the whole idea of cricket as a fair game and this has affected the team. He makes up excuses when he loses; he never gives credit when credit is due, either to his own or other players, he blames his own players when they lose. He never really points fault at himself. No doubt he's a good batsman but useless leader. Certain players who are well past the due date have godfathers sitting on the board as they keep getting selected when they shouldn't be. I think Australia needs to get rid of all the players who think they are still brilliant and fill the team with young exciting players, with skills, passion and talent to move Australian cricet to a more positive outlook like India and South Africa. Look, Indian teams might not win every match but my god do they have exciting players. Australia has the same talent but they're stuck playing domestic cricket while the oldies still hold on to valuable positions and pay slips. Move on, even if Australia lose against teams over the next 2 years, retire with grace, give the younger guys a go. You're boring, unadventurous and you need to let the young guys in. Please do, otherwise Australian cricket is going to suffer a slow and painful death.

Posted by: michelle on December 29, 2008 4:58 AM

Change is a difficult thing, so hang in there. It may be the ship does not have a strong rudder. I actually do not know what went wrong. I am completely baffled by this and I think so is Oz. I have not seen this situation in many, many years.

Just a changing of the guard which seems not to be going well. Oz is in what is essentially uncharted waters and do not seem to know how to manage it.

Posted by: Saffa George on December 29, 2008 4:58 AM

I think it all began to unravel for Australia during their recent tour of India. The great escape in Bangalore was ominous and the defeats in Mohali and Nagpur were most galling since they were not achieved by traditional means (overwhelmed by spin on square turners). Instead, two fast bowlers (Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan) established a stranglehold on the Aussie batting lineup, which provided the blueprint for teams around the world to topple the once mighty Australians. Australia has largely been resting on their laurels since the retirements of McGrath and Lee. Their no. 1 standing was more a reflection of past glory than the present state of affairs, which has been ruthlessly exposed by India and South Africa in recent times. At this rate I predict a 3-0 win for England in the 2009 Ashes.

Posted by: Muralidhar Rangaswamy on December 29, 2008 5:12 AM

First of all, Australia has to understand that they are not the same team which ruthlessly crushed opponents like david vs goliath.
Ricky ponting is too defensive when things dont work his way and his body language is too disappointing which was in full evidence in perth and here. He needs to keep attacking and not get carried away

Posted by: Vijay padmanabhan on December 29, 2008 5:28 AM

Australia's cricket Team are not only not #1 - but not even #2. Conventional wisdom today would put India at #1 and S Africa at #2. Australia is at best #3 (that is if they are any better than England). Australia's game plan revolved around a vicious attitude towards their opponents on the field. With India having first hammered back at Australia in early 2008, and ten beaten them comprehensively this winter, the wind has gone out of Australia's sails.

While on this topic, may I also suggest that Peter Roebucks World XI was so out of touch with reality. Johnson got a nod based on 1 performance. Has he heard of a 20 year old called Ishant Sharma ? Can Johnson hold a candle to Sharma who bowls rippers on dead Indian pitches, while Johnson needs Perth to make any contribution ?

The simple fact is that the Indians toured Australia, stared down Australia, and ripped all the fight out of Australia.

South Africa is merely reaping the rewards of an India-softened Australia XI with no heart, and lacking Brett Lee & Stu Clark.

Now that India has figured out how to give back better than it gets, I don't see a future where Australia can reach #1 again anytime in the next 5 years. Also you need better cricketers - all the current crop are mediocre at best.

Posted by: thirdman on December 29, 2008 5:29 AM

Australia's cricket problem’s started with hopeless selectors and ends with Ponting the worst captain in donkey’s years and an uninspiring Nielsen. Solution an injection of new selectors, sack Nielsen and Ponting should be replaced as captain.

Posted by: John Jurd on December 29, 2008 5:30 AM

All of the above...
I don't think one thing stands out glaringly, Lee not bowling, defensive field, grassed catches, unfit bowler, not nearly agressive enought, selectors errors, and 2 great tail-end partnerships ... all combined to produce this result. Num. 1 would be continuing lack of agressiveness by Ponting...

Posted by: Roger Homan on December 29, 2008 5:50 AM

In 70s, it was West Indies who was virtually invincible in Cricket. Then it was Aussies who were in limelight for more than a decade..fathomless, incomparable, attacking, you can use as many adjectives as you like. But, the bitter fact of life is, no ones sun shine forever. Its as simple as it is. The downfall of Australian cricket is just began...miles to go ahead! Just watch the same 'punter' who was once upon a time was as dear as 'sachin' to indians will soon prove to be the biggest reason for such pathetic and hapless condition of 'Cricket Australia' simply because of his 'arrogance' and haughtiness on and off the field. Remember, no player is greater than sport- be it lara, sachin, steve waugh or ricky.

Posted by: Ajay Kumar on December 29, 2008 5:58 AM

It is pretty simple, Ponting can lead a "Dream" team that had a real Captain in Warnie. His lack of tactical ability is exposed when he leads the "Nightmare" team. It's time to Punt the Punter!!!!

Posted by: Punt the Punter on December 29, 2008 6:00 AM

Australia are simply not good enough - no succession planning was in place during the years of Warne and Mcgrath - and don't forget to give credit to South Africa

Posted by: Greg on December 29, 2008 6:00 AM

1. Umpires:
There is no Steve Bucknor or Mark Benson to give the opponents out as they did to the Indians in the Sydney test in early 2008.

2. Sledging :
The Aussies had always been the masters in this field. Now others are catching up and fear of retaliation from opponents has made it unuseable.

3.The two Malcoms - Gray and Speed - were there to protect them even if the Aussies displayed worst behaviour on the field. Now both of them are not at the helm of affairs at the ICC, the Aussies are wary of punishment.

4. Captain: The Aussies have one of the world's worst sporstman as their captain - Arrogant, Boorish, Cry baby,loudmouth etc.
Opponents get spurred on to teach him a lesson or two.

5. Opener: They have an opening batsman who said his bad form was due to "third world country's" pitches. (Is Perth and Melbourne, third world cities ?)
Play cricket in First world countries to avoid defeats.

6. Vice Captain: He is one who is tipped to "takeover" from the Ponting. What credentials he has ? Refusing to walk when his edge was taken at shoulder height. Claimed a grassed catch and given out by the Fourth Umpire "Ricky Ponting".
Make him change his attitude or change the VC.

These are some reasons as to why Aussies got it all wrong. There could be more.

Posted by: Harish on December 29, 2008 6:16 AM

Perfect time to blood youngsters, gives freshness to the team and the fire inside them to prove at the highest level will turn into a performance thats missing in this current lineup. Australia have been running the show for quite sometime now that they can be at the top for ever. I am not a fan of australian cricket, but I would want them to be at their best to be challenged around the world to make other teams better and make test cricket more absorbing like the day we witnessed on Dec 28 2008.

Posted by: Mukes on December 29, 2008 6:20 AM

Well, Zaheer stated long ago (at the start of the Indian tour) that Australia did not have the bowling to get 20 Indian wickets in a test. I don't think they got India out too many times after that. But is it not fun to see a glorious side just completely fall of a cliff? It is wonderful to watch SA shred away any excuses and dignity from this 2nd rate side and grind them completely to the ground. In defense of Ponting he may be a terrible captain but he is funny to watch now,isn't he?
Hoping for 3-0 but will settle for 1-0 out of respect for Waugh, Warne, McGrath and Gilly. And finally, hope the selectors continue with Lee, Hayden and Symonds till the end of the Ashes. It will make the Ashes delightful as well.

Posted by: htrivedi on December 29, 2008 6:21 AM

1.Sack the selectors for playing Roy instead of Shane Watson.He could have gone fishing instead.
2.Do what England did with Kevin Pietersen, offer Duminy a passport and captaincy.
3.Phone Warney
4.Adopt South Africa's quota system?
5.Accept that Australia are not the best team in the world anymore.

Posted by: Graham Eldridge on December 29, 2008 6:29 AM

When I saw Symonds was playing ahead od Watson, I suspected it was because he was one of Ponting's mates. Yes the selectors seem to be behaving like an old mates club. I do not think Ponting is a good captain, he lacks the I.Q. to think laterally and deal with difficult situations and he is also a loose cannon and shows his negative emotions to his own side and also to the opposition. It is all a bit of a mess, but lets see how they bat today. It may be the end for Lee and Hayden. Lee is a realy nice guy and I hope he can force his way back into the team, but selection should be based on merit. Hayden could do with a few grey cells too he is getting out in incredibly stupid ways.

Posted by: anbg on December 29, 2008 6:34 AM

I believe Riccky Ponting should be replaced as Captain from no on.
In Sydney we need a new leader. A number of batsmen should be closely looked at, and maybe it's the ideal time to introduce new blood like Phil Hughes. Andrew Synonds has had his day.
We need fast bowlers who will get stuck into the baatsmen with speed and fury. We do we turn for a pin blower. In Sydney we usually need 2. There are enough good ex Aussie Captainss around. Are we afraid to ask their advice. Start rebuilding the team now.

Posted by: John on December 29, 2008 6:40 AM

It's quite obvious that Ponting is not up to the job as captain. His field placings and bowling changes lack imagination or inspiration. He does not seem to be able to read the ebb and flow of games the way a good captain can, and therefore impose himself through strategic decisions.

Posted by: Phil on December 29, 2008 6:42 AM

As an ex-Pom, yesterday was like watching England at their worst, snatching defeat (on the day at least) from the jaws of victory. I thought the worst single factor was Ponting's leaden-brained non-use of his available bowlers.

Posted by: Claire Struthers on December 29, 2008 6:42 AM

Ponting must go.

Even Bill Lawry and Kim Hughes were better captains.

Don't let the 100 distract you, if tailenders can do this well he should have scored a double ton.
He has singlehandedly destroyed morale in the Australian team and for that his presence can no longer be tolerated.

Posted by: M on December 29, 2008 6:46 AM

Warne had to be captain after Waugh if Australia were going to avoid decline. He would still be bowling, and would be captaining infinitely better than Ponting - tactics, strategy, team morale, encouraging youngsters - in every possible way. But the CA wowsers got their way (remember Ponting's indiscretions).

Posted by: Marcel on December 29, 2008 6:57 AM

well, if the side lacks the skill and drive to go for the kill then U would be faced with such a situation . Aussies team should play veterans cricket . Why not select Shaun Marsh , shane watson who have proven their worth and are young .

Posted by: Rajan on December 29, 2008 6:59 AM

For many years now Australia has had an unwritten policy that they don't drop under-performing long term players.
The first people dropped are those who have had just a few tests experience.
So inevitably Australia never chooses the best team, but elects to choose a team where one or two players need to be carried by everyone else.

Yesterday, South Africa pulled an Australia on Australia. A tail that wags. Not something they've had to play against! A new and entirely discomfiting experience.
Well good on Sth Africa - but what an utterly dismal fielding side Australia looked.
"Catches win matches".
Sth Africa's last two batting innings (this in Melbourne and the last in Perth) have been amongst two of Australia's most under-whelming efforts in recent memory - even including any sub-continent disasters.

Ponting seems to have had brain fade more often that his immediate predecessors. A century by him his great but his captaincy seems ill-prepared at the moment.

Posted by: David @ Wahroonga on December 29, 2008 7:00 AM

Good Lord! I watched none of it, but the scorecard tells the story. The team is not balanced and is clearly at least one bowler short. I'm no Watson fan but, given what Symonds is currently producing, switch the pair. Bing is gone, bring in Hilfenhaus. Hayden should go for young Phil Hughes. Take the captaincy from Ponting and give it to Michael Clarke. Speaking of Clark's, how long until Stuart Clark is fit? Mind you, the Sarth Efricans are looking like the best time in the world these days.

Posted by: SD on December 29, 2008 7:09 AM

To select an all rounder that at best has questionable batting form and at worst bowling on one leg was an insult to the baggy green, an all rounder relegated to the drinks trolley not to mention a country of cricket lovers. Selectors - put your hands up for this one. Taking an injured player into a 5 day test is Selection 101. We were found out!

I love Ponting’s batting prowess and think he is a wonderful player. However, his cricket acumen was forged in an era when Australia dominated. Cricket intelligence is a subtle combination of God given talent (which he has in spades) and learned skills through grueling experience. I wonder if this great player has not been exposed to those situations to craft the leadership responses now required. That being said, I don’t believe the man at his shoulder is ready. Therefore our Captain will be taking hard lessons in the coming years and will need this nations support which will provide his 2IC with plenty of time to “learn the trade” just as Border, Taylor and Waugh did. In the mean time keep trying things.....least you can say we did something.

Posted by: Meaks on December 29, 2008 7:10 AM

Ricki Ponting effort lacked imagination, India again. It appears he does not consult or listen to advise from his team mates either. He needs a break from the captaincy

Posted by: Peter Theodore on December 29, 2008 7:11 AM

The end of an era of dominance is hastening because the selectors and captain are incapable of thinking strategically under conditions of occasional mild adversity. So unused have our players become to being pushed in fierce competition that both batsmen and bowlers appear unable to adjust their game plan in line with the fundamentals of attacking cricket when their arrogant swagger is challenged.

Posted by: Albert Gerber on December 29, 2008 7:15 AM

You can't do much more.. Aussies get over it, the rest of the world has finally caught up!!
Or try buy some players, it's worked for England.

Good to see the Proteas finally playing competively down under.

Posted by: Saffa1 on December 29, 2008 7:18 AM

A combination of factors a) complacency by Cricket Australia 9poor attendances is the result of pricing etc, poor team selections, whinging Captain and prima-donna players.

Posted by: Stephen Roberts on December 29, 2008 7:21 AM

It will be interesting to see what happens, regardless of the result of this test if Hayden falls cheaply today. Do the selectors continue to pick on nostelgia or do they get serious and pick an in form team. I'm picking that no matter what, the old boys club will have its say and pick its favourites, and not a tem to win.

Posted by: Glenn Haslem on December 29, 2008 7:22 AM

A combination of factors a) complacency by Cricket Australia e.g. poor attendances is the result of pricing etc, b) poor team selections, c) whinging Captain and d) prima-donna players.

Posted by: Stephen Roberts on December 29, 2008 7:23 AM

Line and length missing from most of the deliveries, from all bowlers.

Failed to make the batsmen play, just short of a length. Defensive field settings, when attack at all costs was required. 3 wickets required with a lead of 200. Saving runs was never important. Getting wickets was.

The Aussie bowling attack did not look menacing. Changes required. Watson in for Symonds. Hayden is probably done too. sadly. Hauritz very average. Needs to go.

Half fit Shane Warne would have been far more menacing. Pay him 2 Million for a final 2 year stint. He's probably earnt Cricket Australia 5 times that.

Posted by: Peter Cannon on December 29, 2008 7:27 AM

As always, the selectors will have to make tough choices that won't necessarily come off. They should not be afraid to make some tough calls though:

1) Take the captaincy off Ponting and give it to Hussey or Haddin.
2) Say goodbye to the deadwood known as Hayden (unless he scores a double ton in the second innings)and move Haddin up to opener (he's a better opener than he is a number seven). That will also allow the luxury of two all-rounders to play.
3) Give the new bowlers more than three tests to prove themselves
4) Keep sticking by Lee. He has just gone through the toughest Christmas period (marriage breakup, newly single father, and "mates" who refuse to publicly come out and say that they believe in him) and was still keeping things tight at one end, which allowed everyone else to take wickets - anyone else notice that Australia can't take them when he's off the field?

Posted by: Jim.K on December 29, 2008 7:28 AM

I think that the Australian team should accept with grace that after a dominance of well over 17 years the time has come for another nation to come out on top.
I love cricket but have got fed up with the Australians attitude towards other teams who dare to better them. I'ts a sport play it like a sportsman

Posted by: Midge Theron on December 29, 2008 7:29 AM

It would be tempting to say that it all went wrong because Australia are only a 'glorified club side' at present. This is not the case. They are a proud and capable team always. But despite the Press predictions that SA were down and out, they couldn't be finished off. What about giving more credit to the tenacity of the visitors rather than jumping all over the home side? Anyone who has played sport knows the twists and turns of it. What Australia cannot manage to do well is suffer an occasional loss. They spit the dummy.
There is one person who will be appreciating the patient batting effort of yesterday - Brett Lee. He will no doubt have had the thought cross his mind that a good wicket and sound batting technique along with patience makes it very hard to dislodge anyone, no matter how hard and fast you try. He will no doubt think that it has been a good reminder to his captain. C'mon Aussie C'mon - play the game.

Posted by: Graham Sutherland on December 29, 2008 7:30 AM

I've supported Australia for 37 years and I'm pleased they are getting their arses whipped. It's about time. The selectors got it wrong in the choice of captain. Can anyone remember a worse Australian captain? I have some early recollections of Kim Hughes and I've heard about Graeme Yallop and Bill Lawry but they couldn't have been as bad.

Play the game as it was meant to be played, stop sledging and be gracious in defeat as well as humble in victory. It's only a game so why can't some of these big-headed louts just go and get a real job?

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 7:35 AM

Ponting is not a captain's shoe! He sets negative fields and lets off negative body language that no player on the field should demonstrate let alone the captain. Just like Perth Australia should have attacked heavily in the morning instead of tip-toeing around waiting for the new ball and the captain needs to take responsibility for that not the players and not the selectors! My Father always said to me when growing up that "a champion team will always defeat a team of champions". South Africa showed again yesterday that they are a team, a solid unit out there giving it everything for one another, just like Australia used to. As much as I hate to say it (under the current structure) Australia no longer are a team that can dominate. The ridiculous horses for courses policy has made a mockery of what it means to wear the baggy green. Players are coming and going on a regular basis, how can they expect to blossom if they can only play on pitches that suit them for this game or that game? The policy has supposedly been to pick the best 12 players for Australia and then choose the captain. I'm not convinced that we have either of these anymore! Ponting needs to show some kahunas and take responsibility for once instead of blaming his team mates. Ironically, even though he didn't bowl a ball yesterday, I can see Brett Lee being blamed again!!

Posted by: DJ on December 29, 2008 7:39 AM

Ponting is insperational as a batsman but is very negative as a fielding captain, granted there is no Warne or Mcgrath in his side. Commentators said he pushed for 'Roy' who couldn't bowl,Hayden who is going through a slump where at his age its hard to see him returing to the batsman we remember. He didn't have much to say regarding South Africa's tails' performance. Why not? Wouldn't have seen Border or Waugh ducking the issues

Posted by: Bob Phillips on December 29, 2008 7:39 AM

This is no surprise. All of Australia's wins during their dominant period was due to great bowling pair of McGrath/Warne. Both Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting & Coach John Buchanan looked like great captains/great coach because of these two. Now the batsmen are losing form. It is high time Australians reinvested in youth - Drop Hayden/Hussey/Symonds etc and go for youth - Hughes/Marsh as opening batsmen, Adam Voges in Middle order and Shane Watson as all rounder. Get new bowlers - Beau casson as first choice spinners and Ben Hilfenhaus/Peter siddle as strike bowlers and persist with them for at least 10 tests. Groom Michael Clarke to quickly take over leadership role-preferably within a year

Posted by: Shakti Kumar on December 29, 2008 7:40 AM

Both the selectors and Ponting's captaincy have led us to this point. Selecting an all rounder who cannot bowl is unforgiveable, but they are beyond reproach and accountability. The captaincy of Ponting is defensive and erratic, his record has been delivered by past players with world beating skills and now they are retired Ricky will have to go.

Posted by: Rama on December 29, 2008 7:41 AM

Roebuck is right - the selectors got it wrong. Playing a half fit Symonds (who can't bowl) was a joke. Watson could have at least given us another pace option. Brett Lee should never have played this game. I still think we are missing Stuart Clark a lot more than we realise.

Posted by: Raging One on December 29, 2008 7:41 AM

this is Australian cricket at its worst! not since the days of World Series Cricket have we seen a more inept performance by an Australian side.

Cricket is a simple game: make a high score then bowl your opponent out for less runs - twice. Australia can't take 20 wickets in a match.

The selectors need to take the blame and resign. You must pick a team on form not reputation.

Or alternatively, inject Jacques, McGain, Clark and whoever else needs it with some magic stem cells.

Posted by: Tim on December 29, 2008 7:42 AM

The Australian selectors are at fault. They have allowed the older players to stay too long and not introduced younger ones. The money test cricketers earn is good enough to encourage them to hang on but the selectors must be more ruthless in moving them on.

Posted by: John on December 29, 2008 7:44 AM

The inclusion of Andrew Symons was a selection driven by TV (notice how many ads he was in during the cricket) can't have a person in ads who is not on the field can we! Our cricket team is selected in the boardrooms of TV not the ACB.

Posted by: Allan Kidston on December 29, 2008 7:44 AM

It's simple... sack Ponting from the captaincy

Posted by: Bruce on December 29, 2008 7:46 AM

Andrew Hilditch should resign as should his fellow selectors. They have stuffed once too often. We seem to forget the thrashing Australia received recently in India.

To continue to select Symonds, Hayden, even if he scores today, and the frequent change of bowlers is a farce. Would you want them running your business?

Ponting is a very ordinary captain without McGrath and Warne who knew were they wanted their field and both knew where and how to bowl.

Posted by: Robert Dreyer on December 29, 2008 7:48 AM

Ricky Ponting once had McGrath and Warne to advise him. How could he not win test matches with two of greatest bowlers and himself one of the best batsmen in cricket. They went and Australia has been ordinary ever since. Hayden stayed for egotisical reasons and so how could he ever be part of the leadership team. My conclusion is that Punter is an ordinary captain and an uninspiring leader backed by an unproven coach and a spineless group of selectors. He comes across as a moaning whinger in the press with too much willingness to engage in meaningless speculation about being number one in test cricket. Better to play the game with a future in mind than worry about preserving the boy's club and losing a past crown.

Posted by: Yumsoy on December 29, 2008 7:52 AM

I decided to watch the cricket yesterday on the TV - first time in years. Now I know why. It was embarrassing. The bowling in the first session was terrible but at the end of the day it's always a failure of leadership. Can you imagine a Chappell or Border letting South Africa escape so easily???

Posted by: Bakes on December 29, 2008 7:53 AM

As a captain Ponting makes a great batsman! Is it just coincidence that since the best never to be captain, Shane Warne,(who used to offer Ponting more suggestions toward tactics than anyone else), left the team, Ponting has struggled to make quick and decisive changes to fielding and bowling. If he is involved in selection as well, he has to stop looking after his mates and make sure we have the best team possible, no matter what.

Posted by: Jeff on December 29, 2008 7:53 AM

The blame game has started, soul searching has begun because the Aussies are no longer invincible as they liked to think they are - the victor is the game of cricket

Posted by: Ram on December 29, 2008 7:53 AM

I think Ponting has to go, he has never been a good captain, he has only every succeeded because he had such great players like Warne, McGrath etc.

He has never done one single thing as a Captain that has been outstanding, he is merely competent at best.

Ponting has to go as Captain, get someone in who takes a risk, who plays the game and doesn't just go out there to stand and spectate.

Posted by: NoMore Ponting on December 29, 2008 7:54 AM

Ponting is a captain lacking in imagination. The responsibility for yesterday's debacle rests solely with him.

Posted by: Wes Nicholson on December 29, 2008 7:55 AM

The Australians have lost their mojo, their aggressive arrogance and often merciless approach which saw them dominate test cricket has been replaced with an almost complacent attitude. Their performance yesterday morning particularly was inexplicable, no pressure on the batsmen, poorly executed bowling and equally dismal fielding. Who do I hold responsible, coach Neilson for how they play and execute and Ponting for playday tactics. I have seen grade cricket played better than what I saw yesterday...appalling.

Posted by: Gary on December 29, 2008 7:55 AM

I'd say Ricky Ponting made the most of the hand he had been given yesterday. It shows me that had Shane Watson played instead of carry the drinks we would have had another all rounder i.e. more runs and wickets. Ponting is Australia's cricket captain not a bloody magician. We need more Mr Cricket's players who can bat and bowl.

Posted by: Shaun Newman on December 29, 2008 7:56 AM

It is about time the Selectors took responsibility for a long period of sitting on their laurels (or those of some champion players), leading cricket tours and not setting in place a long term future for Australian cricket. A long term future that includes succession planning, calculated risk and blooding some younger players. There is no good time to bring in youth, but this notion of an ageing batsman going to England when there are at least 2 young openers waiting is a recipe for disaster. And what about their approach to Australia's spinning needs? It has been haphazard, lacking in strategy and policy and consequently has fallen short of expectations: the selectors should come clean on what their policy is. And playing an allrounder who really cannot bowl to his capacity; it does not serve the team or him, well. However the Selectors are not responsible for on field tactics. There the leadership, including the Manager have to work out what went wrong. Perhaps the Selectors and the Manager are too close to the team and cannot make those hard decisions such as the one that deprived a great servant of the game, Ian Healy, his 100th test at home, at the Gabba, to replace him with a future immortal.

Posted by: CJP on December 29, 2008 7:56 AM

What's going on with Symonds? First they say he is too injured to bowl..then he is brought on to bowl in the last session, after the tourists hit the lead! The selectors know we struggle to get 20 wickets so they pick an injured all rounder who can only bowl powder puff off spinners. Stupid. Hilditch & the rest of them should be axed.

Posted by: Scott on December 29, 2008 7:58 AM

As Steve Waugh once said of captaining Australia, anyone can do it when they are winning. It's when times are tough that the test of a captain is applied. Ponting first showed his lack of leadership skills and cricketing nouce on the '05 Ashes series with his conservative field placements and erratic bowling changes. And don't get me started on the negative body language. The selectors will never sack him, and I can't say I'd be keen to see Clarke take over, but anyone for Katich?

Posted by: Marty on December 29, 2008 7:59 AM

One name. Ricky Ponting. Great batsman and player but a terrible captain who's flaws were hidden behind the greatness of warnie and mcgrath for the longest time.

Way too defensive and not innovative nor imaginative as a captain. He doesn't try to change things when the game drifts. In saying that though, there's no obvious candidate to step up. Clarke is vice-captain but he was also on the field yesterday and didn't seem to try anything or suggest Ponting try something new so that doesnt' inspire much confidence

Posted by: C on December 29, 2008 7:59 AM

We keep hearing about the Australian team "transitioning". What exactly are we transitioning too? I trust it is not yesterday's rubbish. We need a broom through the place and whilst Ricky Ponting remains one of the world's finest batsmen, he is a very ordinary captain. We need a new captain, possible a new coach (who is Tim Neilsen) clearly a new Chariman of Selectors and a fresh bunch of new kids. It will take us 5 years now to regain our postion at the top of the tree.

Posted by: Rob on December 29, 2008 8:00 AM

Stupid selection of Symonds when he is not fit and worse when he has no form. As much as I don't like Watson he should have been in the team.
Someone on the selection panel should sack themselves, this was a basic of basic mistakes.

The selectors also should take the axe to Hayden weather he gets runs or not. His time has past, he is an impedment to the team moving forward. His form over the last 12 months should see him go even if he gets 100 today.

Posted by: Steve on December 29, 2008 8:01 AM

It takes time to replace the greats like Warne, Mcgrath,Langer etc.I belive these three alone could have turned the tables around if playing currently. To replace them would take time and nurturing of a young crop of players.You just dont get this calibre of player" just off the shelf"
No fun in blaming Ricky, selectors etc but admit and face up that the climb back to the top is going to be hard and slippery with lots of situations like this in the next few years and possible series losses too.

Posted by: Abdalla on December 29, 2008 8:03 AM

I dont know how long the selectors will continue in this fashion of selecting players by name and not on form its just not good and bringing Australian cricket down.

Posted by: Saleh on December 29, 2008 8:03 AM

Leave the cricketers alone. They have done an amazing job and now, after a long time with very little break, they show signs of being human. I hate when the media persecutes people when they have a down moment. Go the Aussies. Not everyone is bagging you. If anyone should be bagged, it should be the babbling idiot commentators on channel 9. I am proud of our Aussie cricketers.

Posted by: lisa on December 29, 2008 8:09 AM

Australia gone wrong not now !!

They gone wrong last summer Sydney test against Indians!!

Karma, what goes arond will come around!!

Now Australian players has to learn to play agressive cricket with their Ball and Bat, not with foul mouth and agressive body language.

Ofcourse when learning some thing new will take a while. So we Aussies need to wait!!

Posted by: Srikanth on December 29, 2008 8:10 AM

The problem lies with our expectations. Australia's past successes were falsely attributed to the professionalism of the team rather than 2 of the greatest bowlers to have ever played the game (Warne and McGrath). In test cricket you need to take 20 wickets - it's that simple.

While I believe the selectors did get it wrong in the case of Symonds (as an all-rounder - he may still have a case as a batsman), the truth is that it takes time for young talents like Mitchell Johnson & Peter Siddle to develop the variety, control & discipline of the likes of Glenn Mcgrath. This is a process that senior bowlers like Brett Lee should give assistance.

That is if he has enough time between his bollywood commitments, endorsements & other off-field antics.

Posted by: vijay on December 29, 2008 8:11 AM

Hey!! Howabout every one quits on the excuses game!! Theres a sense of arrogance in all the individual remarks made by Australian players on and off the field. The game is bigger than the individual, and selectors shouldn't be listening to the bleatings and promises of little boys to do better in the next innings. The selectors, in the off season, have referred to the depth of talent in state sides. WELL!! backup those remarks and use them. Look at the impetus provided by the rookies so far!!

Posted by: longstop on December 29, 2008 8:11 AM

Wrong?

What's wrong with losing? So what if a team comes up against another team that's managed to get their act together! Our boys either "find" the stuff that's neeed for victory or they don't... it's how much is learned from the feeling of losing that's important - and the biggest thing that should be learned is the one thing the media just can't get a grip on; which is to enjoy the game for what it is and what it provides, rather than having constant autopsies even before there's a corpse!!

Posted by: Steve C on December 29, 2008 8:12 AM

Rubbish,
Time to move out with the old and in with the new. Old tactics dont work anymore. There is so much great young talent in Australia its time to give guys who have fire burning in their bellies a chance.

Losing to South Africa - Rubbish - Losing to South Africa at home - Any one got some rope? Just as bad as losing the ashes.

Time for change - Symonds as a great athlete he is - One dayers are his game - Whats wrong with Bracken? Best bowler in the world - as long as its 50 overs? RUBBISH again - if you can bowl you can bowl - Hayden? Enough is enough - 37 too old to open for ANY country - ARGG could go on all day.

Posted by: Blake on December 29, 2008 8:15 AM

when are we going to see some decent wickets for the bowlers perth was flat ,melbourne is flat and tailenders are scoring big runs in all games we have to relise test cricket needs to guard the bowlers and give them a pitch with something in it i know that the african bowlers knocked our guys over but our top order is out of form and our tail scored same as the africans protect our greatest asset fast bowlers

Posted by: jay on December 29, 2008 8:17 AM

Australia should rebuild its team. They (the selectors) should have done this last year. Hence the following should have happened last year.
Hayden is gone and should not be in the team anylonger. There are many batsman good enough for a shot at the National Team. Get rid of Hayden.
Symonds is a limited overs player. A specialist in that game. Hence why play him in tests?
Lee isn't playing well for whatever reason. Get rid of him.
Ponting? I've never been a fan. Get rid of him as captain.
Michael Clark is also a failure. Mr Cricket is a blond bimbo joke. He should be dropped for the next test so he can 're-think his attitude'
Australia cant dominate forever. It is a simple truth in any sport. While the selectors & old boys club continue to run and represent themselves in the game Australia will take longer to rebuild its team. The Ashes are coming & at this rate of inconsitent team development the English will win them back. South Africa should go on to win this test and the series and they deserve it purley because Australia have lost the plot & have a captain who is surrounded by YES men and believes his own hype & mystique. Hussy should be given the nod for Captain.

Posted by: Deep Long Off on December 29, 2008 8:17 AM

Too many out of form players. [Too many to replace all at once with new untried players who may perform no better.] Some of this team may never regain old glory days, except briefly here and there. They are on the wane. Hard to decide who should go, but Hayden likely has to, if only to show we are looking to rebuild. There may not be enough others in the local state teams crying out for test selection. Many are at best 50-50 prospects for success.
Australia are just not good enough at the moment.

Posted by: frank on December 29, 2008 8:17 AM

Ponting A Captain That Must Go

The one thing a good captain brings to a team is his / her superior knowledge of the game and a good way with people. This person must inspire their team to great heights, Mr Ponting has shown time and again that he is not capable of this. When he is needed the most, the time a leader stands up and leads he is not around. I also was puzzled when he didn't face the cameras on channel 9 last night after play, this is another must for a captain.
Anyone can lead a team that is doing well, only a few can lead a team successfully that is not playing well, to the heights of winning. I feel looking at the members of this team that they wouldn't follow Mr Ponting to the ends of the earth, like the team that was around say Steve Waugh, Mike Brealey, Ian Chappell would have.
Even if a captain is not playing well he / she can inspire the team to greatness, this skill is sadly lacking with Mr Ponting and the sooner he stands down and concentrates on his batting the better we all will be.
Also maybe the board of Cricket Aust. should consider the position of the selectors also as including Symonds as they did when it was obverse to all watching that he was not fit to play must be one of the more strange decisions.

Posted by: Paul on December 29, 2008 8:18 AM

Its obvious that Ponting is a great batsman and a terrible Captain. He behavour last year against the Indians and his lack of ideas this year prove the point. He must be demoted as Captain. Clarke could take his place.
The selectors need to all be sacked as well. Since Hohns and AB left there have been a series of non decisions by the selectors. Fancy forcing the Waughs and Healy to retire in this day and age? Steve waugh would be a great chairman of selectors.

Posted by: Andrew Halliday on December 29, 2008 8:18 AM

I think the selectors should do the right thing by Brett Lee. He's had a very tough year and Brett being the team man that he is won't ask to be rested. Yet of course he DOES need to be rested. He needs time off. I don't know why Ricky and the selectors don't see that.

Andrew Symonds was hobbling badly in the field yesterday. He's not fit. For such an important game you need fit players. Why not bring in Shane Watson?

The selectors aren't doing the right thing by the players.

Posted by: Mitchell Hall on December 29, 2008 8:18 AM

Ricky got it wrong by using part-time bowlers to burn 8 overs while waiting for the new ball in the morning session. Duminy played himself in, and even though Hussey took a lucky wicket, Dale Steyn came to the crease to face who? Hussey & Michael Clarke.
Ponting should have learned in India that the most important ball is the next one. The problem is can he still fit into the team without leading it?...

Posted by: Mick on December 29, 2008 8:19 AM

We played poorly. That is first and foremost the problem. We were captained poorly and we played poorly.

That said some things really were set against us:
1. Bret Lee's injury. Normally with 3 fast bowlers Ricky is able to rotate them so one is always bowling which keeps up the pressure, however, him being out meant we had to rely more on part-timers and a spinner who seems more set to be a pressure builder not wicket taker.
2. Andrew Symonds, really you can't blame the big man for playing but you have to question the selectors of this choice. However if Brett Lee didn't get injured it possibly wouldn't not have been such a calamity. Suddenly we were in dire need of an all-rounder and Symonds couldn't do it.
3. We were plainly unlucky. In cricket sometimes luck will roll with you, yesterday everything jsut went horribly wrong. We conceded two 5 run balls, which normally happen as often as Hayden getting a duck. Dale Steyn also played the innings of his life. He has never ever come close to what he produced today and he will probably never do it again.

Lets not forget though, tomorrow is another day. If Hayden can stay at the crease and if Ponting can tee off like he did in the first innings we are in with a shot.

Posted by: Sam on December 29, 2008 8:21 AM

I am absolutely disgusted at yesterday's thoroughly inept performance. Ricky Ponting in my view is completely useless as a captain, he lacks imagination and any degree of tacticial knowledge. I also cannot fathom how the selectors could possibly have chosen an injured allrounder ahead of the very talented Shane Watson, who in my view, would have been extremely valuable as a bowler yesterday. The selectors also should have sent Brett Lee back to state cricket in order to rediscover his form and passion. I have been attending the Sydney test now for 25 years and will not be going next week because I cannot comprehend how Cricket Australia is allowing the captain and the supposed "brains trust" to completely destroy the magnificent legacy created by Allan Border, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. I, and many others, are just dumbstruck!

Posted by: Glen Fraser on December 29, 2008 8:21 AM

Ponting should go - his captaincy is appalling, field settings mystifying and use of his bowlers very strange indeed. Drop Hayden and Symonds (who should never have been selected in the first place - let him go to India. Losing a series to SA is only slightly less painful than losing to the Poms but at least we might get a clean out of the team, starting with the captain.

Posted by: Stuart in Sydney on December 29, 2008 8:22 AM

Sack Neilsen - and fast. Losing Langer, McGrath, Warne and Gilchrist was always going to be tough, but losing such a forward thinking coach who steered the team through it's ruthless world dominating best was so much tougher I feel. Ponting carries too much blame and Neilsen and I think the press needs to start asking questions of Neilsen as much as they are Punter - starting with the President of the 'Ponting and the Australian test team are worse than Hitler and the Nazis' club, Peter Roebuck.

Posted by: Grover on December 29, 2008 8:22 AM

as a Kiwi I can only say what is happening off the field is fabulously interesting and funny as......oh how the mighty have fallen!

Posted by: ab on December 29, 2008 8:24 AM

I think captaincy is the issue.Ricky not able to perform well under pressure.I also want to say some dirty politics are there.I do not know why symonds got preference over watson or why we can not able to give hayden rest? Brett lee need rest too.

Posted by: matt on December 29, 2008 8:24 AM

What we saw yesterday is what happens when three irrestible forces coincide - poor selection, dubious captaincy and complacency borne of too many comfortable Test Series victories at home. This was worsened by injury to a(albeit fading) frontline bowler.
Ponting's leadership is under question due to his petulance with India last season at home, his lack of killer instinct in India and recently his tendency to initially single out Brett Lee and others instead of taking the blame himself as leader.
The dilemma is this - how do your selectors make positive changes when possibly they need to be replaced themselves?

Posted by: Chris Edmeades on December 29, 2008 8:25 AM

Is it Australia or Australia seniors playing for money and self?

Posted by: Ram on December 29, 2008 8:25 AM

Umm, just maybe, on the day South Africa were better. Cricket is a funny game, always with that little element of unpredictability, and that little element of luck. Australia have not all of a sudden become a bad side. Quite simply, on the day, South Africa had a good one, Australia had a bad one. It happens to everyone and will happen again to everyone in the future. Simply congratulate South Africa on being that much better on the day. Nuff said.

Posted by: Yoda on December 29, 2008 8:26 AM

You lost the last series to India. You're losing this one to South Africa. Why not try a country outside the Commonwealth - like Holland!

Posted by: Vic Bethell on December 29, 2008 8:27 AM

Selectors!!! They are supposed to be the brains trust of Australian cricket and you have Boonie and big Merv on the panel - nice guys, but are just not the brightest crayons in the box. Hildich might have a clue, but is too busy being a lawyer.

If you are not picking the best team available, then it will eventually come back to bite you. There is a bit of a mates club in the team… This is why Simo can play with out showing any form and nothing Watson can do will impress. Just watch how quickly they will drop the Kat if his form slumps, and yet let Haddo go on an on. There is too much money for the players to let them to make the right decisions on when to go.

I also think that there are some state based politics (yes you Merv!!!) that are getting in the way. Make Rod Marsh the chairman!

Posted by: Benny on December 29, 2008 8:29 AM

What we are seeing is the loss tactical skills with the departure of Warne and Gilchrist. Ponting is without ideas. He is not even gracious in defeat.

The selectors don't help. If Symonds cannot bowl, then he shouldn't be in the team. I guess would probably affect Ford's sponsorship.

The coaching has also gone down hill. "Accidently" slipping team tactics under the opposition's door was a master stroke.

Posted by: Bryan McGinty on December 29, 2008 8:31 AM

Australia dominate day 2 because every bowler applied pressure. Without Brett Lee, the valve was released. Ponting's timid captaincy compounded this problem when he defended rather than attacked. But, why was he so defensive?

Ponting is not a bright man. This does not make him a poor captain - many Australian captains are dullards - but it does make him susceptible to suggestion. Rather than trusting his instincts, he finds himself playing the way he thinks he is expected to play.

Ponting is easily influenced by rogue commentators like Peter Roebuck, who throw honour, ethics and analysis into a slippery and tangled vision of leadership. He is also influenced by the ACB, which would rather the Australian captain be a diplomatic loser than a ruthless winner because it oils the financial wheels with India.

Ponting has good instincts and he's been advised out of using them. It's time for him to lead the way he wants to lead. It's also time for him to be given the best youngsters in Australia. If you want to re-build, then re-build. Stop dallying. Hayden was great. Now he is finished. Hussey has a couple of years left. Drop Symonds and be done with it. Bring in Hughes. Bring in Bollinger. Rip and tear. That's what Australians expect because it's served us well. And Ricky, see the inane observances of pretentious journalists for what they are.

Posted by: Nick on December 29, 2008 8:31 AM

There are plenty of things wrong with the Australian team. Matthew Hayden shouldn't be there; He's dropping catches and failing as a basman. Symonds should never be selected with an in form Shane WAtson available. There has to be a spinner who is accurate and can put plenty of revs on the ball. How about Beau Casson or Daniel Cullen? The fast bowling atack has had spasmodic success. Why prsevere wth Brett Lee when there is obvosly somehing wrong with him? There is Bollingr and Hilfenhas ready to be selected. And why wasn't Simon Katich given a bowl? He is one bloke who can apply control and aggression at the same time. And then we have Ricky Ponting as captain who can't use his players effectively. Peter Siddle as opening bowler was an outstanding success; but that was a one hit wonder. If what he tries doesn't work he's got no second option.

Posted by: Paul Dalton on December 29, 2008 8:31 AM

in the back of my mind i remember my coaches in the 70s telling my team that the way to get people out was to make them play. the three sticks at the other end are what the bowlers should be aiming for and the feild should be set to attack not defend, perhaps ponting should revisit his school days and take some advice from the people who taught him the game.

Posted by: rob rose on December 29, 2008 8:32 AM

Australian Cricket's fortune turned the day they beat India in the last over to win the test and hence the series in Australia in Dec 2007. That day the Australian press lead by Peter Roebuck turned on Ricky Ponting's Australian team. I recall Roebuck suggesting " that they behaved like a pack of wild dogs" as they took three wickets in the last over, to win the test and the series. Since that day, due to the press and the nation turning on them, Ponting and his team have lost the 'killer' instinct that Australian cricket teams are renown for ......

Posted by: Bernard Fridman on December 29, 2008 8:32 AM

As the saying goes,
"It is harder to get out of the Australian cricket team than to get in to it". This continues to ring true with the current Australia "B's" playing SAF. Time Australian selectors realised it is a privileged to play for our proud country and if you don't perform then get walked. Sounds a little like the NSW State Government presently-surely they have not taken control of the selectors.

Posted by: Megan on December 29, 2008 8:32 AM

The problem is simple. Over the past 15 years, Australia has been phenomenal. Best record ever in both forms of the game. We have been at the summit and now everything else will be lower.

The best thing out of this is that games against Australia are becoming competitive and watchable. Over the past 5 years, it was painful to watch any Test or ODI against Australia as the result was pretty obvious.

I think guys Roebuck is taking his commentary a bit too far. There were mistakes made by Australians, but the 4th and 5th day of this Test is now not a foregone conclusion.

Posted by: sfx on December 29, 2008 8:33 AM

Get rid of Ponting - he is no tactician, how can a team do its best with such a woeful leader?

Posted by: anne-maree mcdougall on December 29, 2008 8:34 AM

What the team is lacking is a good leader. Ricky served the AUS team in the past, but his time has passed. Time to hand over to someone with a lot more fire. M Clarke is ready.

Posted by: Don on December 29, 2008 8:35 AM

The Australian cricket team is not being given a fair go, by the media, and Peter Roebuck in particular. Peter has not had a good word to say about the team for years, he calls the team arrogant, but this man needs to go. The team is going through a ruff patch, and will have to change to a younger and more inexperience side for a while, but the team will still be comptetive. Give them a go!

Posted by: Dean on December 29, 2008 8:36 AM

Australia's problem is not its bowlers or captain or its batsmen, it is just the umpires. Bring on Steve Bucknor and Darrel Hair and Australia will be once again the winning side.

Posted by: Dingo Dean on December 29, 2008 8:37 AM

Ricky has been riding the wave of the new "Untouchables" for a number of years now (Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist, Lee etc.) with the Australian team steamrolling everything in its path. Ponting has never really had to strategise and rarely has he had to defend. The beginning of the end was the 2005 Ashes loss coupled with the spate of retirements since then. I don't know whether "fault" is the correct term but the Australian team will be adrift for quite some time until they re-assemble a solid, tested team. Personally, I think fault lies with the selectors. They have allowed the "old guard" to prevail and given little opportunity to new upcoming talent. It's their win at all costs and an arrogant attitude that is their undoing.

Where to next? Well be prepared for a lot of defeats for starters. Be prepared for Australia to be knocked off the top rankings by SA and India in Test and perhaps ODI. I reckon cycle as many players through the Test and ODI teams as is practical and see which ones "stick". Then rapidly retire or replace under performers or the injured.

However, in the selectors favour, they have given cricket a much needed boost by making it competitive and interesting again by their inadvertent ineptitude and reliance on a feeble captain and non-performing "stars".

Posted by: Jambies on December 29, 2008 8:39 AM

Playing Symonds injured was the biggest joke. Watson provided not only another option but back up should one of the quicks go down injured.....oh and look what happened. Sack the selectors!!

Posted by: Charlie on December 29, 2008 8:39 AM

Michael Clarke was interviewed on the radio last night. He continually referred to batsmen as "batters."

This bloke is the vice captain of the Australian XI and he can't even respect the tradition of the game.

Too many players now are concerned with the celebrity sportsman lifestyle and not with the sport itself.

Posted by: Stephen on December 29, 2008 8:39 AM

I'd dare say we're witnessing the end of Australia's era as the dominating power in world cricket. And it may take close to a decade before we're on top again.

There's lots of reasons for this & it's not just because of resent retirees in the likes of Warne & McGrath. A couple of the current veteran players have reached their use-by date & should retire as well. Ponting as captain, well I've never been impressed by him in such a role, previously relied on these great players to get him out of his own mess, but now his lack of captaining ability is clearly to be seen. But the coaching is also lacking, that helped started the decline thanks to the very average skills of Buchanan, which hasn't changed overly much in the right direction.

But let us not forget the administration body itself. It's become far too much of a money making corporation demanding "professional" behaviour. In doing so players, especially Symonds, have been more or less, have been hounded for behaviour which would have been deemed acceptable only a decade ago as the likes of Boonie conducted their antics mostly for the morale of the team. But step out of line now & a ton of bricks fall on you. That can't be a great morale boost for Australian players doing Australian things...

Posted by: David on December 29, 2008 8:40 AM

Ricky has got to be dropped for the captaincy!!! He is stale and lacking a killer instinct to captain. Time for the young Pup to step up or at least give Huss a spell.

Posted by: ben on December 29, 2008 8:42 AM

1.) Please believe that this is a cycle. What goes up must come down....that David shall beat Goliath. So stop being Goliath.

2.) Stop being cocky.

3.) Get Ponting out. He is the root cause.

4.) Get the apex body CA more powers on where and when an Aussie cricketer can earn his money.

5.) Practice, Practice and More Practice

Posted by: Prabhat Gupta on December 29, 2008 8:43 AM

Haa haa haa… I am a proud South African in Australia and am thoroughly enjoying watching theses egotistical Aussies imploding. This has got to be the best couple of weeks I’ve had in this country and that’s not about bragging rights (soon to come), it is about reading the ruthless press, seeing Ponting and his arrogant army abused and belittled…loving it.!

Out of every single Australian I have been speaking with, not one has commented on how well the Proteas played in Perth and what an awesome fight back at the MCG.

Who should you blame for this nightmare series…the Proteas for sticking it to the Aussies.

Posted by: Gavin on December 29, 2008 8:43 AM

Dearest Peter,

In your previous days article, you had written off the South Africans.

Make up your mind!!

Posted by: Brett on December 29, 2008 8:43 AM

The problem starts and finishes with Ponting. Sack him - he's not up to the job. He has lost tests Australia should have won to England, India and now South Africa. Let him focus on being a brilliant batsman and allow someone with a bit of wit and insight to run the team.

Posted by: Angafan on December 29, 2008 8:45 AM

Peter Roebuk and Alex Brown are spot-on. The selectors should take the blame. Given the bowling problems in Perth, Lee was off form and should not have played, Watson should have replaced Symonds, because he is fit to bowl medium pace and Symonds (who could barely run) was not. Hilfenhaus should have played, as he can swing the ball - particularly given the upcoming Ashes. Why is Bracken overlooked? Ponting was poor as captain and does not know how to apply pressure. It's interesting that the players who played in the IPL are having the physical problems!

Posted by: Mike Abel on December 29, 2008 8:47 AM

When Lee has bowled more overs than anyone else this year, only to be surpassed by Mitchell Johnson, it's time to get young bowlers in for the 3rd test. How long is Mitchell Johnson going to last at this rate? This series is all but gone - it's time to look to the future.

We are paying the price for relying for too many years on Warne & McGrath. India & South Africa have moved past us: it's time to accept that and rebuild the side with younger players.

Posted by: Craigy on December 29, 2008 8:47 AM

Oh Peter Roebuck it is really easy to play a game of cricket from the press box. For the first time since the loss of the ashes a few years ago has the Australian team been put under some real pressure. A good thing in my opinion. Instead of blaming the Australian team, I congratulate the South Africans for their contribution and getting on top of the Australian team. The cricket itself has been great to watch. In the end one team has to win and one has to lose. Get over it, it's only a game and the dominance of Australia coming to an end can only be good for the game. Grow up and stop acting like a (pseudo) selector. Having the team you think could win makes no difference as it hasn't played, so there is no way of knowing if it would have performed any better or worse.

I used to admire your input into this wonderful game, but in the past couple of years you leave me with the impression you think you are better than the game. I think it's time for you to give it away.

It was interesting to listen to the media on Saturday afternoon debating whether Australia would enforce the follow-on when the SA were 6 wickets down. Perhaps the media should take a hard look at themselves and decide once and for all if they are commentators, speculators or critics.

As for the players perhaps its time they decided whether they want to be first class cricketers or 4th or 5th (or worse) rate actors. It's interesting that the dominate players featured in these pathetic advertisements are the players that are performing poorly.

Posted by: Frank on December 29, 2008 8:49 AM

It looks like Australian Cricket and Ricky Ponting has soft corner for too many players. This isnt the same Australian team that use to take hard decisions of dropping players if they are not playing well. Obviously loss of shane warne and Glenn Mcgrath is hurting but to select Andrew Symonds on his past record rather than his present ahead of Shane Watson who was superb in India is plain ridiculous (It is like hoping Shahid Afridi will hit some runs atleast in this match).It is bound to fail. Also giving a bit too much time to Matthew Hayden to go out in flying colours means risking Australias winning chances. Ricky Ponting was the captain with the best winning percentage in test cricket before India series. Now I am sure he is languishing at the third position. And i dont think it is going to change very soon if the selection continues to be like this. You can hide one non performing batsman and bowler in test cricket not four (Hayden, Hussey, symonds, Brett Lee).

Posted by: Sanjay Tarvade on December 29, 2008 8:49 AM

Absolutely appalling performance by the Aussies. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw yesterday.. I was in disbelief and completely shocked.

We need to make some changes immediately -
1. Hilditch (chairman of selectors) has to go. His replacement has to be someone who CARES... get someone like Steve Waugh in his place.
2. Leadership change - Michael Hussey should be appointed as captain and Simon Katich his deputy.
3. New Blood - Hayden, Symonds and Brett Lee out... Rodgers, Watson and Hilfenhaus come into the team for the Sydney test. Brett Lee comes back into the team after a short break.

Posted by: GG on December 29, 2008 8:51 AM

I'm a die-hard Australian supporter, but I must agree with the previous Gav. I think Australia's fortunes have finally declined in conjunction with their declining levels of sportsmanship on the field. I am all for playing hard but fair, but I don't think the team has done itself any favours over the years with their behaviour on the field.

And they struggle these days when another team, i.e. India or South Africa, gives it back to them in spades.

Ponting has shown himself to be not that much of a captain, just a niggly bully. I particularly disliked the way he seemingly blamed Brett Lee for Australia's dire performance in the First Test without apportioning the blame to him or his other under-performing senior players.

There are some tough times ahead without our retired stars, but we also must acknowledge how well India played in the last series and how well the Saffers are playing in this one.

Posted by: Gavin on December 29, 2008 8:52 AM

1/ Roy is not a test cricketer. Should not have been picked even if fit.
2/ Hayden should be shown the door.
3/ We need a captain from NSW

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 8:54 AM

haydon 2 old, clark 2 slow at scoring runs(and he is our next captain he is more defensive the old jeff boycott) symonds injured and in watsons spot, brett lee out of puff,hussy picked 4 aus 2 late in he's career, and then there is punter i dont think we have seen punter have a punt in a long time attack son attack christ he cant even get tailenders out now a good cap would have them out in a few overs at most.

Posted by: luke on December 29, 2008 8:55 AM

I have never written a blog before but after yesterday's play, something has to be said.

Sack Nielsen - How can a coach let the 5th day of the 1st test and yesterday's play occur the way they did - your headline "Nightmare gets worse for Nielsen" says it all. We need leadership in the coaching position.

Somebody start mentoring / advising Ponting on captaincy. Ponting's mistakes are not just his own.

Selectors accept responsibility for recent selections (such as playing injured players). It was embarrasing to see a lumbering unfit Symonds try to run and bowl. Unfortunately, the great Hayden has one more test.

Steve Waugh would never have let this happen. The problem is that Ponting isn't attacking enough with his bowlers. The field gets pushed out and they give away freebies on both sides of the wicket. They tried to buy a wicket and it turned out to be very expensive. It will cost Australia a home series... hardly cheap.

The other big question is: why pick Symonds? His batting is below-par and his bowling is ineffective. There are plenty of hard-working batsmen in state cricket who, just like JP Duminy, just need an opportunity and will gladly take the #6 position any day. I think Peter Roebuck is right: it's an old boy's club.

Posted by: Doc on December 29, 2008 8:59 AM

Other Grant at &;35 -
'be gracious in defeat'.
.
What defeat? It's not over.....and a draw is likely now

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 9:00 AM

I am not reading or listening to Roebuck.

As for the Indian test in Sydney, has it ever been pointed out to him that to come back and win a test like that in the last over is a tad exciting? I am sick of hearing about what mongrels they were. Just human so far as I can tell.

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 9:05 AM

As a student of the game and as a park player, I find it strange why Ricky Ponting as captain did not pull his bowlers aside, point at the stumps and say "see them, that is what you need to bowl at!" A captain must lead and the team is lacking leadership!
Instead of bowling short and wide all day. Glen McGrath use to bowl at 130km/h on a tight line outside of off stump and get wickets, how come the current selected bowlers, who are bowling at 140km/h plus can not do this. It also amazes me that they do not swing the ball, how hard is it to rough up one side of the ball, shine the other and swing it. Currently there are a number of bowlers who can not get a look in, this series reminds me of the last ashes campaign in England where the selectors persisted wuth Jason Gillespe despite being tonked all over the park. There is also issues with the batting, Hayden needs to be put out to pasture, sure he has been a servant of the team but there are younger players in form waiting in the wings, Hussey needs some time back in state cricket to rediscover some form or drop him back down the order, how many runs in all forms of the game must Phil Hughes or Chris Rodgers make before being considered, all rounder?? Forget Shane Watson, he can handle the pressure, bring in David Hussey.. can bat, can bowl, can field and does not have hamstring issues.

I believe that wholesale changes are needed starting at the top, these could have been achieved against New Zealand but the lack of vision is now showing through.

Posted by: Jem on December 29, 2008 9:06 AM

Who is knocking Graeme Yallop's captaincy? That's a bit harsh, given what he had to contend with. But as stated earlier, the best and most aggressive captains are from NSW.

What's Steve Rixon up to at the moment? (re coaching)

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 9:07 AM

Ponting was riding his luck on top players that played for Australia. As they say the Captain is as good as its team. Disaster was looming and here it comes ....

Australia should inject fresh blood rather than sitting tight with old boys who once played well. Todays team of SAF and India are classic examples.

I've never heard of an Aussie side picked with so many injuries. Crooked knee, foot and no balls!!

Bunch of pre madonnas!! fancy Clarke buying he's wife a Aston Martin, I don't think the bloke has a high school education (asshole)
Ah, well thats Austraaliaa mate!!!

Posted by: saffer1 on December 29, 2008 9:09 AM

The boys club has to end.

The arrogance of Hayden telling the selectors that he will play on to the ashes defies belief.

Symonds has lost interest and his time is up.

Lee needs a rest but has time on his side and a good spell on the sidelines will serve him well and he will come back stronger and quicker.

Ponting has to go as Captain but stay for a season or two while we blood Haydens replacement.

The selectors also need to go. The rule should be that you cant become a selector for 20 years after youve finished playing. Clearly they are two close to the players and playing the likes of Hayden & Symonds proves this.

Oh, and also congratulations to the South Africans whom have fought well all series and are clearly the number 1 team in the world. Yes Ricky, we are clearly no longer number 1!

Posted by: Dave on December 29, 2008 9:09 AM

what the heck Symonds was doing in the field yesterday. Can't bat, can't bowl!!!!

Ponting is gone, he should be replaced with immidiate effect. Bring Clarkie on as a captain and restart the team with young blood. Kick Symonds, Ponting, Haydos and Lee out, they have done good job for Australia and now off they go, enjoy fishing. Only Huss stays.

Start again!

Posted by: Boiragi on December 29, 2008 9:10 AM

Roebuck got it right alright. It was a disaster. Was Brett Lee fit coming into this test match? Philip Hughes, Watson and Hilfenhaus must play in Sydney.

Posted by: Nicholas Pappalettera on December 29, 2008 9:10 AM

Ponting is lacking and has been since he no longer has Gilchrist to advise him what to do.

It should not be forgotten that Australian cricket went through a golden age and that our expectations of a less capable team are probably too high. But like any organisation which is down on talent, it is even more important that the organisation is run properly. At this point it is difficult to see anything that is working well with cricket in Australia at the highest level. Some of the things that are obvious:

1. Organisationally things arent working. One of the reasons why most players have problems stepping up to test level is because the level of competition that they are receiving at the state level is substandard. CA needs to make sure that the elite players are playing against the up and comers. Schedules need to be adjusted to ensure that this happens.

2. It is illogical to have Shane Watson being the 12th man - which is what happened to Lee a while back. What is the point of having him sitting in a dressing room for 5 days. Like all athletes, he needs work. So if he is not going to be in the team to play, let him go back to Qld and play - even if the standard is not as high as you would like.

3. The selectors have botched selections through the Indian tour, against NZ and now against SA. None of the selectors were considered thinkers during their cricket careers - which is not to say that they were not successful, simply that they were not considered the most insightful. Like all management positions, selector positions need to have appropriately qualified people.

4. There is clearly a breakdown in confidence between Ponting and the selectors. How else can you explain why Ponting was so defensive yesterday when he had his foot on the throats of the South Africans. Rightly or wrongly, he did not think that he could remove the last three wickets and was simply waiting for them to get out.

5. Strategy setting. Once again, this is a problem with team management. Like him or loathe him, the previous coach seemed to be very successful in helping set the right strategy. Are people sure that this is the case with the current coach?

6. Playing players injured is always ridiculous and has proven true here again. Either the medical staff or the selectors botched this with Symonds. Roebuck is right, selecting an injured Symonds makes no sense. He surely is not among the 6 best batsmen in Australia and if he cant bowl and field as he normally would, then surely it makes better sense to pick Watson or another specialist. The absence of Lee really did not make much difference yesterday - he was only holding up an end in any case.

7. Finally, James Sutherland and the Board of CA. Like all Boards of Directors and CEO, the buck rests with them. Management actions have been questionable for more than 12 months and should be acted upon. In the corporate world, mistakes of the type that have been made, would not have been tolerated. I am not sure why there should be any less accountability here.

Posted by: greg on December 29, 2008 9:11 AM

Ponting should have been axed after last years effort. Problem with a captain who inherits & played in the top team, he has never tasted defeat. Time for the boys club to be over and add some extra fresh blood. As much as I have enjoyed the team over the years, we know it's time for a change, they need to know it. As a country we have some of the best playing for the state sides, get them out there win, lose or draw...

Posted by: another viewer on December 29, 2008 9:14 AM

Please sack the selectors (especially the Chairmam, who could never play cricket anyway) and Symonds. Actually the whole team needs to be revamped and Pontings lack of ergency and a "plan B" is a real worry.

Posted by: CJ on December 29, 2008 9:15 AM

Vic Bethel - clearly a Pom. We haven't lost this yet and we won't lose to you. Dream on.

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 9:15 AM

It would be easy to lay the blame with Ricky Ponting, and while he has to take some responsibility, he can only work with the team he has been given by the selectors.

His field placings did lack imagination ... the whole day had that feeling of Calcutta in 2001, where Steve Waugh set 7 - 2 field placings which allowed Laxman and Dravid to pinch singles and boundaries all over the place.

I was prepared to give Peter Siddle the benefit of the doubt after his bowling effort on day two, because I really thought that Hilfenhaus should have been there over him, but he should at least be given one more test to prove himself.

However, he could be made a scapegoat for what happened yesterday.

Hauritz, I feel sorry for the guy.

I believe the selectors should be given a rocket and some new fresher faces on the board to pick the team. Mark Waugh and Ian Healy are two names I am dropping for the job, with perhaps Darren Lehman.

No-one denies Ponting is a great batsman but as a captain he has been disastrous. The warning signs were there when he lost The Ashes for the first time in living memory. His captaincy lacks imagination, inspiration and foresight. He always seems to be reacting to situations as opposed to influencing them. His judgement in relation to field placements and bowling changes are lacking and his patronage of Symonds and Hayden should not be underestimated when their continual selection is considered. Contrary to what Rod Nicholson thinks, Ponting's captaincy has played a significant role in Australia's cricket decline.

Posted by: Phil on December 29, 2008 9:20 AM

Ponting should never have been made Captain in the first place. We all know he was second choice. He is one of the world's great batsmen, but a lousy tactician, and even worse, lacks leadership skills. This was entirely apparent in yesterday's debarcle.
Save the bowlers and replace the captaincy. Haddin or Clarke come to mind.

Posted by: Shawn on December 29, 2008 9:22 AM

CA solution is going to be a non Australin coach/manager I think import from South Africa-will CA WILL BE ABLE TO DIGEST

Posted by: Ramnik Shah on December 29, 2008 9:25 AM

This is my point of view.. they should let some of the new players in so then australia can get a stronger foundation later on in the future.. you see.. australia have lost all there key players. warne, mcgrath, langer, waugh.. and hayden is on the verge to go to.. so australia need to thing about giving the newer players who have had a less go.. so australia can set a foundation when the older players retire. Sum it all up anstralia needs to find the right players (Bowling, Fielding , Batting) to be in a place in the cricket world..

Posted by: G-Dogg on December 29, 2008 9:26 AM

enough of the old boys club - time for Pup to take the reigns - let ponting concentrate on his batting. Thank them for their efforts but get rid of Symonds and Hayden - let them concentrate on their TV ad careers. It's the young blood who have the passion and drive these days, they deserve a chance to show their stuff, and the viewing public deserve a national team with a bit of pep, not the old boys who put their ego before the teams needs.

Posted by: Shannan on December 29, 2008 9:26 AM

Yes we must now admit we are the 4th best nation playing cricket. Blame the selectors they are abysmal,Hayden should have been dropped after India, Symonds never been selected ahead of Watson and do what the Poms do and relieve Ponting of the captaincy keep him in the team as a batsman and appoint Warne as captain while grooming Clarke to take over after the 2009 Ashes Series which we might draw with these minor changes.

Posted by: Bill Rossenrode on December 29, 2008 9:26 AM

How could the selectors go for Symonds over Watson? If he is not fit enough to bowl he shouldn't be selected as the all-rounder. Absolutely rediculous. Ponting does not back his bowlers enough. Maybe it's time for Pup to step up.

Posted by: Jaytee on December 29, 2008 9:28 AM

Ricky Ponting's captaincy was not previously tested as he had fantastic match winners around him. The true test of his captaincy and greatness is now being tested and unfortunately he is falling short of the great captains of his era.

Posted by: Dinesh on December 29, 2008 9:30 AM

My Dad always said that it is harder to get out of the Australian X1 than it is to get into it.Now I know what he means.

If Meblourne is a draw cut Symonds for Watson. If we lose give them both the boot and bring in Henriques and Hazlewood. Nothing to lose....

Posted by: johnnysocco on December 29, 2008 9:31 AM

Nothing new here.
The answer has for some time been:
Ponting - out
Hayden - out
Lee - out
New blood IN. (From State teams.)
Cheers
Rick

Posted by: Rick on December 29, 2008 9:33 AM

Make up your mind Peter Roebuck.
This time last year you criticised the team for being too ruthless and for having a win-at-all-costs attitude. Now you write that the side "lacks fury".

Stop trying so hard to make headlines, and just enjoy the cricket.

Posted by: Michael Evtushenko on December 29, 2008 9:35 AM

This is all my fault.
I use to hate the Australian cricket team, and they use to win everything.
I recently discovered a love for them. Now they lose everything.
I am to blame. The more they lose the more I love them.
This is cycle that can't be broken. A nation's destiny in my hands, and I can't bring myself to get up and go to the beach.

I am a coward and I am sorry. Forgive me I know not what I do.

Posted by: Marc on December 29, 2008 9:37 AM

Ponting is the worst captain i have ever seen. He captains like a shoolboy. Didn't he learn anything at all from Tugger and Tubby?!
The captaincy should go to Katich who has a great record as captain, or even Clarke if they must. Symonds must go, and Hayden if he doesn't do something spectacular in the second innings. Siddle is a trundler and should never have been there. Hilfenhaus or Bollinger should be there instead, but of course a fish rots from the top, so changing the captain will fix the biggest problem.

Posted by: Wolfgang on December 29, 2008 9:40 AM

It all starts with "nothing went to plan" That is the problem, Ponting is a terrible captain who can't think on his feet. They all have these 'plans' for each batsmen and what fields to set, etc, if that doesn't work they have nothing because the bloke is a nong. what happened to the bowlers figuring it out for themselves?

Posted by: Franky on December 29, 2008 9:41 AM

Srikanth:
"Now Australian players has to learn to play agressive cricket with their Ball and Bat, not with foul mouth and agressive body language.

Ofcourse when learning some thing new will take a while. So we Aussies need to wait!!"

Sic....

"We Aussies?" Are you sure that's what you mean?

Anyway, thank you for your wisdom. Maybe our players can strive to be like your lovely Mr Harbhajan Singh? Or the sportsmanlike Mr Ghambir?

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 9:41 AM

I don’t understand why everyone is harping on about Hussey's drop catch and why it was so embarrassing. It wasn’t a drop catch because he didn’t touch the ball and I would ask if anyone else could have done better given the circumstances. You can’t catch what you cannot see.

Posted by: Craig on December 29, 2008 9:42 AM

Frankly I am just loving it. Seeing the Aus cricet team in disarray and turmoil is the best thing to happen on the international cricket scene for some time. Where's the swagger now, boys? Long may this continue.

Posted by: Gazman on December 29, 2008 9:42 AM

The responsibilty goes back to the Australian Selectors, there are players on the team that shouldn't be there and playing unfit/injured players to me is a joke - as if there are no players left in the whole of the country.

I believe the Aust cricket team has become a club for selected players with a lifetime pass to play for their country, i guess it has always been this way - The West Indies team is a perfect example of a team that became an OLD MAN's Club and where are they today - nowhere.. it's time to act rather than give 1000 warnings before the selectors replace a player that is not performing... the players are doing really well in the media/advertising but not really on the cricket field - which one would the selectors prefer...

in regards to Symonds if anyone else in this country did what Symonds did - he/she would get sacked from their fulltime job but in this case the selectors are telling us or perceiving that we have no other players to turn to - another farce by the Australian Selectors..

All these people that criticize a team for playing poorly - never gives credit where it is due - a teams performance is also based on the fact how well your opposition allows you to play..

Also if anyone believes that any cricket nation will sit at the top forever is only kidding themselves, the ony way a team can improve/reassess its performance and players is when you start losing that top position... while your winning and on top, the mistakes that start creeping into the game go unnoticed - most of them anyway and when things start to turn these little mistakes in tight and competitive games make the diference between winning and losing...

I think i have said too much :)

Posted by: Ahmed on December 29, 2008 9:44 AM

Members of our media are very slow
to get it......Australia is no longer as dominant in the cricket world as we were.
In the next year both India and S.A will move well ahead of us.
I also think that the standard of our selections need to vastly improve ...or else England will also roll us.
The reality is that Ricky is not a good captain.My Nan would do a decent job with the side he had up till 2 years ago.....!But look at his record since.
However the current situation is directly related to the failure of our selectors to come up with a side based on form.
We saw it in India.
In this test Hayden and Symonds ought not have played due to poor form and injury.
Above all it is time for most of our media to realise that we are not the side we were.

Posted by: craig lightfoot on December 29, 2008 9:48 AM

Bereft of any other reasons for Ponting's tactics, has anyone thought of him being in the books of the bookies? As his nickname suggested, he likes a punt or two.

Posted by: Jimmy of Sydney on December 29, 2008 9:49 AM

1. Lee needs to go. His most potent weapon is his pace and now that has deserted him, he offers nothing. His action lacks height which means he will never get the work out of the pitch that McGrath used to and Siddle does now. Lee is bowling a good 10 - 15kms slower than Siddle and Johnson and isn't moving the ball. We've moved past the era where batsmen lose patience and get themselves out to rash shots, and therefore have moved past the era of Lee taking wickets. He needs to go back to Shield cricket and work on his tactics and develop a game where he bowls to a plan. If he is good enough, he will come back. It is a big 'if'. So who do you replace him with? Bollinger or Bracken - both are taking plenty of wickets in Shield. Two left handers in the side - so what? They are proven wicket takers.

2. Symonds/Watson: why was Watson dropped in the first place? He looked the best of the pacemen in India and was the only one moving the ball, plus a determined 70-odd with the bat when we were under the pump. He is a no-brainer for the all-rounder position. The selectors seem to be waiting for that big knock from Symonds but we are not so dominant anymore where we can nurse players back to form. We need to get ruthless so bye bye Roy.

3. Hayden: does not back himself anymore, looks scratchy to 20 then gets some confidence and plays a stupid shot. He is slow in his movement now and in short is just too old. Even if he has a massive score in the second dig here, he needs to go. Stay tuned for a press conference tomorrow evening.

4. Ponting's Captaincy: something is wrong here. The culture of the side is not right, they seem to be going through the motions and expecting the wickets will take themselves. With Warne and McGrath, they certainly will but those days are over. He needs to get more aggressive and use the whole team in the field rather than sit back and wait. I don't think you can blame Ponting alone, the selectors and coaches are equally responsible.

Australia's dominance is over and if we don't make some big changes we could be heading for another embarassing Ashes hand-over in 7 months.

Posted by: Anth on December 29, 2008 9:50 AM

Ponting must go...He has proved himself to be an incompetant captain & must be removed. If he was a true captain he would have replaced himself.
Michael Clarke is NOT the man to replace him either. Anyone stupid enough to go out with Lara Bingle let alone plan to marry her is missing quite a few brain cells.

Posted by: Sam on December 29, 2008 9:50 AM

it,s good what is happening in a way this crap has been happening in australian sport for a long time all the politics of how players fail for a long period of time and still retain there position...it only embarrases the player and the country who refuse to give younger fitter and sharper skills to show case them typical of australian cricket board...shame shame shame

Posted by: cricket lover on December 29, 2008 9:51 AM

Ya the Aussies played poorly, but WHAT about that South African wagging tail?!
Good on you okies, Duminy & Steyn you were superb

Posted by: Joan on December 29, 2008 9:52 AM

Don't be too lavish with praise for Steve Waugh as captain - he had little idea when the going was tough (remember Laxman and Dravid, then Dravid and Tendulkar). Waugh had a great side which the "drover's dog could have captained. Mark Taylor was our last great captain. In January, 2008 Roebuck advocated a new side built around Simon Katich as captain - may have been a better idea than many thought at the time. "Little dog with tattoos" is certainly not the answer - at least not until he has had cranial shrinkage. Pensions for old cricketers! The insipid James Sutherland who ignores public communication and is at the top of the arrogance tree should also be pensioned off!

Posted by: SS on December 29, 2008 9:54 AM

Cricket's not boring anymore - so they must be doing something right!

And the humility will (hopefully) do the the aussie team good.

And maybe things will get to the point where I am no longer cheering on the poms, south africans (and even the indians) and start cheering for my own country again ...

We have had some great players and we will again, they just need time and the opportunity to develop.

Posted by: george on December 29, 2008 9:54 AM

I thought the selection of Symonds over Watson was the responsibility of Ponting/Nielson? The selectors put both in the squad, but ultimately its Ponting who decides the final team.

We have to play a fit all-rounder in Sydney so we can allow 2 spinners (kreja and hauritz to bowl off for the head spinner position in Sth Africa) to play at the SCG.

I agree with an earlier comment, its time for Captain Katich to arrive.

Posted by: Goldman on December 29, 2008 9:55 AM

It appears that there's probably 3 or 4 points on which 90% of ëxperts" agree:

(1) Ponting's captaincy is questionable.

(2) Australia's lack of bowling penetration is blatantly apparent, since the departure of Warne & McGrath (and the absence of S.Clarke).

(3) The decision to select an injured Symonds was a dud.

(4) Hayden and Brett Lee are likely on their last legs.

But fair dinkum, does anyone else yearn for the days when pitches started to crumble on Days 3, 4 and 5 .... ?
Curators seem to be taking pride in preparing pitches that resemble a mirror for all 5 days.
It should have been blatantly apparent that our bowling attack would struggle to dismiss quality teams twice.
The curators should surely be preparing wickets that favour the home-team (i.e., crumblers).

Posted by: Hoges on December 29, 2008 9:59 AM

We have all known for a long time how much of a 'boys club' playing for Australia was. Ricky has raised it to a new level. As soon as we heard Andrew Symonds was critical to the team culture things were pretty obvious he was back in. Yesterday was a disgrace, Heyden looked bored and will retire very soon. Ricky should go now, but we all know thaty is not going to happen.

Posted by: NWR on December 29, 2008 10:00 AM

woeful...this has happened before.Rebuilding by bringing in new blood is required both on the field and off.Ponting is one of the finest cricketers to have played for his country but is not a captain.This has all the hallmarks of the demise of West Indian cricket,and C.A.appear to be taking the ostrich approach.

Posted by: go manly on December 29, 2008 10:03 AM

C'mon fellas, how could you suggest replacing Roy and Hayden..what would the broadcast parnter and major sponsors do with their ad campaigns ?

Posted by: Bud on December 29, 2008 10:11 AM

Ponting needs to go as captain - much too defensive and has little idea of how to use spinners. Not even trying Katich is a crime.

The selectors, too, need to dispense with their recent obsession with the Symonds mojo. He's injured, so replace him with an allrounder who can bowl. Pretty simple.

It's also clear that the Hayden mojo has gone - so why not replace him with Rogers in Sydney.

And just what has Doug Bollinger done wrong? India wrecked Australia last year with 2 left arm quicks, so why can't we use two of them?

Posted by: Mark on December 29, 2008 10:12 AM

Nobody learnt anything by winning!

Shame that the Selectors, Ponting, Simmo, Haddo etc. are not fast leaners.

Posted by: Benny on December 29, 2008 10:12 AM

Time for Ponting to retire the captaincy. Time for a new selectors committee. Time for Symond's inclusion in any test team to cease. Time for Hayden to retire. Time for Lee to accept a position as support bowler. Time to let the eager and able young blood to have their head...

Posted by: David on December 29, 2008 10:12 AM

The Australian team selection has for years been so conservative.

Where is our selection of a young player like Sharma. A young player with no fear who comes along and takes the game by the scruff of the neck.

This is part of the great theatre of sport, and we have missed out. Even Hussey was not selcted until he was a semi-veteran. His small window of opportunity at the top is made even smaller by this conservative nature.

Posted by: michael on December 29, 2008 10:13 AM

Ponting shud learn something from his indian counter par MS Dhoni. I am no indian fan but appreciate the lateral thinking that guy can do..his instincts are spot on. Ponting however was lucky that he had Mcgrath, warne...but wat next....he should learn to polish youngsters and get the best out of them as Dhoni does...We need likes of warne and Mcgrath to become no. 1 team again...one this is for sure...Ponting with Warne & Mcgrath is great....Ponting without'em is zero....

Posted by: Rob stanley from Concord on December 29, 2008 10:14 AM

Typical shortsightedness from many of these comments. We all got drunk on the success of having Warne, McGrath, Gilchrist and Langer. How we need to get over the hangover. This means accepting we will lose more matches as the other countries have reached the standards we set them over the last 15 years. Maybe Ponting isn't as good a captian as Border, Taylor and Waugh, but hey, he's been handed the hardest cricket job in the last 20 years and a 75% win ratio was never going to go on forever. So let's stop whining about what could have been (ie. Warne being captain and still playing) and cop it like to rest of the cricketing world has copped it from us. It's obviously our turn to rebuild...

Posted by: Raybies on December 29, 2008 10:16 AM

Our cricketers look like they have lost the hunger/ the aggression/ the mongrel or whatever you like to call it. It is high time to 1. relook at the overstacked, money spinning calendar, 2. seperate Test and pjama selections, schedules and priorities, 3.remind our batsmen that balls dispatched along the ground rarely get caught, 4. pick fit and inspired players, 5. remember that players like Warne and McGrath don't come along too often, 6. recognise that Punter is a great batsman but has too much to do to ever be remembered as a great captain....and finally give the Proteas the credit they deserve for playing great cricket and doing an Australia on us.

Posted by: Steve Dale on December 29, 2008 10:16 AM

Why is Pup Clarke doing the press interviews and not Ponting? Highlight of the end of day's play press conference was Pup saying with absolutely no confidence ' If we bat really really well I am confident we can win'. Geez pup we were a disgrace and they took the mickey out of us, its better to say nothing than to come out with garbage like that. Seems to me we finally come up against a team with a bit of go about them and we disintegrate mentally. This series is gone, so lets bring in the youth to blood them in time for the Ashes.

Posted by: deano on December 29, 2008 10:19 AM

The anger directed at the Australian team by many Australians had to come. For too long we've been subjected to their arrogance, appalling sportsmanship and lack of grace. They are paid large sums of money to perform yet want the right 'to leave at a time of their choosing'. With all due respect to Matthew Hayden, why are we waiting for him to tell us whether he wants to retire or not - it's not a privilege afforded any other Australian worker. More alarming is that team members think they have that right in the first place. Equally alarming is that too many of the commentators [TV in particular] seem cut from the same cloth. They're too close to the team and too ready to defend their mates regardless of the damage their performances and behaviour have contributed to cabal that's assumed control over Australian cricket. Then we open the paper and see pictures of 'Pup' showing us his tattoos, or read of his gift of an Aston Martin to his girlfriend. It's as if he's more interested in claiming the title of Bogan KIng than he is the captaincy of the Australian cricket team. Clarke makes 80 and is hailed as our saviour. Duminy made twice the runs and is twice the player. Hayden was a great player, but he is no longer. Same with Lee. Symonds behaviour alone should preclude him from further selection. And as for Ponting's captaincy - the sooner he's removed from the role, the sooner we can start to admire him for his batting and not his churlish, unsporting, unimaginative captaincy. The time has come for a good clean out of Australian cricket. Why not start with the following principles: selectors select and players play. Selectors will determine when a player retires, not the player. Youth - Hughes from NSW - have a place in the team NOW and not when the members of the cabal decide. Well done Sth Africa - you've shown up the Australian team and system for what many of us have known it to be for far too long - a team of overpaid, underperforming, aging cricketers who've treated the Australian Test team like their own private club.

Posted by: ray of south yarra on December 29, 2008 10:20 AM

It's the cricket recession we had to have

Posted by: staring clown on December 29, 2008 10:23 AM

As an Englishman watching for many years and viewing the 2nd test live on tv the worst I can say is that the 3rd days play reminded me of watching England many times .Make changes now or suffer for many years however this are not as bad as Peter Roebuck seems to think. Hayden needs to go sooner rather than later Ponting is not the confident leader im used to seeing and spin bowling is an obvious problem.From a neutral point of view Siddle looks good Johnson is good and Brett Lee is still very good.I would be very surprised if there was not other pace bowlers in the country to challenge. Pick on form not reputation Symonds is class and could be the bridge between the old and new.Do not despair Australia can always play there way into form in the summer against us

Posted by: ROD FLEET on December 29, 2008 10:23 AM

Roebuck has been bagging Ponting relentlessly for so long he was always going to be proved right in the end. Australia will come back and smash the poms next year.

Posted by: Andy on December 29, 2008 10:26 AM

I have said it a few times already and still nothing is happening in that front. So I will say it again. SACK THIS BUNCH OF SO-CALLED SELECTORS WHO DON'T EVEN DO ANY SELECTING. Until that happens, nothing will change. You need to sort out the root of the problem and the root here are the selectors and they are the biggest problems.

Posted by: Terry on December 29, 2008 10:27 AM

Does anyone else think that the fact that all the under performing players (Symonds, Lee and Hussey in particular) feature heavily in the major sponsors advertising campaigns affect selection decisions?

Posted by: John on December 29, 2008 10:27 AM

my grandfather could captain with warne, glen and gilly on his side. ponting needs a few lessons on captainship.

Posted by: joe on December 29, 2008 10:30 AM

The annual Allan Border medal ceremony turns our cricket players a kind of celebrity, and leads them to believe in cult status, which may not have desired impact on their performances.

Posted by: Dipak Sanyal on December 29, 2008 10:30 AM

The teams attitude stems from the captain. Ponting appears to feel it is his god given right to win without having to work for it. He has been brought up in a culture of winning, not realising how hard the like of AB, Taylor and Waugh had to work for a victory. Ponting is a result of our long time success. I agree the selector have a lot to answer they have given Ponting his head with selections and Ponting has no has kept the boys club together for too long. How long would the tale last yesterday it Tait was hurling the ball down at the batsmans head or feet. I feel it is too late to change the impending result of another Ashes defeat and maybe only then will the penny drop and captain calamity will leave a sinking ship.

Posted by: Jason on December 29, 2008 10:30 AM

I think a point that has been missed is that we were our Australian team were not facing a tough challenge. They had bowled the tough ones out 7 for 196 on day 1. What we are saying is that the brilliance shown in the first test with Mitchell Johnson could not be replicated. Why? Well its not the pitch - tail enders cannot handle any pitch with the right bowler. I guess it has to be that we lack the potent approach and killer instinct of the past. How could we drop catches and win matches. Why could we not put these tail enders under more pressure even when we broke fingers. Sorry Ricky but the but stops with you. Glad you made your ton but we needed you in the captaincy yesterday. Take a hard look at the bowlers brough in and what you did with field placement. To an extent it also shows our batsman did not make enough runs!!! Rick should have scored 150 min.

Posted by: Jerry on December 29, 2008 10:31 AM

I note that there quite a few posters stating that India and South Africa are better than Australia. Well, I do agree that right now, South Africa certainly is better and probably the best in the world now. But as for India, until they stop bullying umpires into giving in to their whims by not threatening anyone who make a wrong decision against them, they will never ever be true champions. Any team can be true champions when umpires are under pressure to always make favourable decisions toward them. So for now, India can at best only be pretenders to the throne. South Africa is the real deal now.

Posted by: Terry on December 29, 2008 10:32 AM

Someone explain to me why Symonds was selected to play ?

Ricky Ponting is the Micheal Hagan of cricketing world...only good when the players are best in the world...but unable to bring out the best in players.

Posted by: Harbhajan on December 29, 2008 10:32 AM

The blame fair and square lies with Ricky Ponting. If he gets the credit when team is winning then now he gets all the blame when team is losing. There was no imagination on his part when to came to field placements or maybe he was thinking far too ahead about winning this match and getting all the accolades in newspapers for his century and Australian resurgence. For me, he was never a great captain, just a very lucky guy who had the two of the best bowlers in the world at his disposal. It hardly takes anything to captain guys like Glen and Warne. Also to all the people who are saying ponting is a good batsman, let’s wait for another year. It is a total different ball game to bat when your team is winning very convincingly within 4 days to what the present situation is. If same amount of pressure continues to be applied by oppositions ponting batting will also decline. It will be very difficult for ponting to score centuries when he has to bat to save a match. He hasn’t scored much against quality oppositions when team was under pressure during year. It’s high time during this doom and gloom that Australian selectors at least try to save Ricky Ponting 'the batsman' by appointing someone else a captain. It will give him freedom to bat with full concentration.

Posted by: Amit on December 29, 2008 10:34 AM

the Australian team and Australia as a whole must realize that things have changed. This is a rebuilding period similar to when Bob Simpson came in as coach. Batting techniques must be rebuilt, better bowling plans devised, and concentration on fielding and placement...play the percentages because there is no bowler who can come in and save or win a match single handedly. Score singles and doubles instead of trying to entertain by big hitting...its more productive to hit 88 runs in several hours and lose only a wicket or two than 60 runs in one hour and lose 3 or 4 wickets. Defensive techniques seem almost non existent - the batsmen make Paul Harris look like a test bowler. The batsmen have to learn to occupy the crease and rotate the strike like Duminy..they are giving S.A. all the time they need to post large scores and chase...they are giving their wickets away. The left handers are not able to deal with the around the wicket bowling and seem unable to realize that they need to change their stance. I think the coach must go, as well as selectors and add to that Symonds, Hussey, Hayden and Lee. Bring in Hughes, Klinger, Rogers, and maybe Marsh, North and Moises Henriques as the all rounder. Changes are better made earlier rather than later. Why is Hauritz a test spinner in Aust and not in India?. Kreijza was sacked for the same reasons that Hauritz wasn't playing state cricket..inability to take wickets. Why is White a spinner in India and not Australia? Hussey looks like he has no confidence, Symonds looks like he has a chip on his shoulder, Lee has lost his pace and Ponting seems lost for ideas and Clarke looks like he wants to captain....so give him the opportunity. Previous captains were terminated after much more successful careers and greater ability than Ponting. The Ashes series at this stage look like a 5 or 4 nil to England. Bring back Bob Simpson and some new selectors...Shane Warne?.

Posted by: Ben Cameron on December 29, 2008 10:34 AM

The selections invited disaster. Playing injured players and those transitioning to retirement was a disaster waiting to happen and it did. Hilditch must go and Ponting replaced as captain. The last few tests have exposed him totally. Where was Kato in all of this.

Posted by: Harvey Rosario on December 29, 2008 10:35 AM

It all started when Ponting kept his mates together rather than promoting new blood in the team.

If he weren't captain his batting would be more carefully scrutinised.

Posted by: Steve M on December 29, 2008 10:38 AM

Can someone tell us what cricket Peter Roebuck played and who elected him Cricket's judge and jury?

Posted by: Jim on December 29, 2008 10:39 AM

Hoges - the point is not whether they could shift 20 wickets - yesterday they couldn't shift the bunnies!

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 10:40 AM

Steyne plays straight as an arrow and yet no fielders were placed at long on and long off. Should have placed them halfway to the boundary forcing him to go over the top or across the line... I lost count how many runs he got with straight drives.
And why select an all-rounder who can't bowl due to an injury? We keep finding ways to lose matches, the team of old would have gone for the jugular.

Posted by: John on December 29, 2008 10:40 AM

Some perspective in the writing of Peter Roebuck. This man has a clear agenda against Ricky Ponting and has been waiting for the Baggy Green to decline and put the boot in.

The reality is that the team is in a rebuilding phase. Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh never had to captain the team in such a position. Ricky Ponting has never been in this position as a player, yet captain, and that is why he is struggling.

It is very hard for a team to do well when it's primary opener, No 4 (Hussey's form has not been raised, but it is a concern as well), All Rounder, Strike Paceman and spinner are out of form and when the keeper and No 3 paceman are still finding thir feet in the team. How can the captain be blamed for that?

The selectors have a lot to answer for. There has been no succession planning, no grooming nothing. The fact that the happy hooker is the chairman is a disgrace.

One thing we also need to remember is that South Africa are a very good team. Possibly the best team going at the moment. So instead of Roebuck continuing to be a Ponting Basher, let's have a look at the bigger picture.

Posted by: Matthew Hill on December 29, 2008 10:40 AM

The problem as I see it is that we have a bunch of players who are more interested in making money on the side & trying to be celebrities rather than being cricket players. REPLACE THEM.

Posted by: Macca on December 29, 2008 10:46 AM

We all might be getting carried away at the present time. The demise of this great Australian side is simply the natural order of things. You can't always be great! I am a cricket tragic and I am a very patriotic Australian but I have become pretty sick of some of the boorish behaviour of the last few years of this side. I am really looking forward to the next few years as we unearth some new talent and hopefully a new era of respect. How good will it be for Australia to unleash our own version of JP Duminy or MS Dhoni etc. The world moves on and the Australian cricket community will rise again but hopefully without the ungracious folks who have led this side for the past few years. You only have to read the comments of our sub contintental friends to understand how disliked this team has become. It's OK to win with dignity and respect.

Posted by: Rob on December 29, 2008 10:48 AM

Symonds is in every second commercial that airs during the coverage. he had to play this summer, as did hayden for the same reason. the weight of the sponsors money is picking the team.

forget the team, the captain and even the selectors - I suspect there needs to be a full clean out of CA from Sutherland down.

Posted by: Jim on December 29, 2008 10:50 AM

Ausie team is unbalanced. Too many players out of form, wrong bowling attack and too many passengers. The days of GM and SW showed excellence and attitude. A team wanting to be the best and to show it. Current crop have some fantastic players – SOME, but sadly is reliant on previous awe. What happened to the cock-sure days?

Posted by: Kabous on December 29, 2008 10:51 AM

Katich is a much better captain than Ponting. As Captain you always need to be applying pressure on the opposition.
Time for the passengers to get off...bye bye Haydos, bye bye Binga and bye bye Roy.
Time to get the new blood in before we have The Poms actually looking forward to playing us.

Posted by: Leigh on December 29, 2008 10:53 AM

1st of all you have say that S Africa are playing great cricket, much better than us Aussies & that's why they are in front.
Our selectors are not bold enough. They are carrying older players who have not produced the good 4 a year or so. Bring in the new talent, we are lucky Bret Lee is injured, now they are forced 2 make a change. I don't care if we loose a few I want 2 see our cricketers putting their heart & soul into the game & playing 4 all they are worth.
It might even be time for a captaincy change. Ponting is a great bat but not nearly a great captain.

Posted by: time4achange on December 29, 2008 10:58 AM

Hayden please retire while you have your dignity... if you should happen to score a hundred today, look upon it as a great way to go out, not a reason to continue.

Simon Katich should be the captain... he guided NSW to a Shield title last year with a side that was continually missing its best players to national duty. It is time to select the best captain, not award the role to the best batsman as seems to be the trend in the last 10 years.

The selection of Symonds over Watson is an absolute joke. He is not a wicket taking all rounder. He is a great ODI player and nothing more.

Posted by: Mark on December 29, 2008 10:59 AM

Hayden please retire while you have your dignity... if you should happen to score a hundred today, look upon it as a great way to go out, not a reason to continue.

Simon Katich should be the captain... he guided NSW to a Shield title last year with a side that was continually missing its best players to national duty. It is time to select the best captain, not award the role to the best batsman as seems to be the trend in the last 10 years.

The selection of Symonds over Watson is an absolute joke. He is not a wicket taking all rounder. He is a great ODI player and nothing more.

Posted by: Mark on December 29, 2008 11:00 AM

I truely believe it is time for Ponting to stand down as Captain and let Captain Pup takeover. Ponting is still the best batsman we have but as a Captain fails miserably through 100% lack of creativity and also a lack of respect for the bowling department.

We need to rebuild for the next test. If Hayden fails again, then he should be dropped for Klinger who is simply a run machine.

Symonds also needs a big score if he is to hold down his number 6 batting position. An allrounder needs to be selected based on whether he can hold his position as a batsmen and a bowler. Watson can only hold his position as a bowler so better to pick a specialist bowler. Perhaps we need to think about replacing Symonds with a talent of the future, Phil Hughes who is a batsman through and through.

Rebuild I say, rebuild. Top to bottom. Should I say it, yes I will Nielsen needs to go and Warne should be bought in as coach.

Posted by: craig on December 29, 2008 11:00 AM

There's still a guy hanging around who has brilliant captaincy potential. Shane Warne. Give him the captaincy, get a brilliant bowler back in the team, problem solved.

Keep Ponting in the team as he can still bat for sure, but he must lose the Captaincy. That day for me would be just brilliant.

Posted by: Warnie for Captain on December 29, 2008 11:08 AM

This disaster, has to some degree, been inevitably coming for several years now. The selectors have shown little enterprise in attempting to replace Warne and McGrath, but hardly NO enterprise with regard to the batting. Apart from Ponting, who nevertheless is not an attacking captain, Hussey, Hayden, Clarke are clearly aging too quickly, and becoming ineffective. But for Haddin, the run total would be far worse.

The slips are fielding too deep, (how many times has the ball been nicked only to fall short of slippers), and it seems as if the writing is on the wall. Australia need to forget the rankings, because at the moment their successes, if any, will be of the moment, and not lasting.

The selectors need shaking up, because they are the ones ultimately responsible for a sharp decline in a cricketing power.

Posted by: TareeDawg on December 29, 2008 11:10 AM

I agree with SS. Mark Taylor was the last great captain we had. From then on, the captaincy has taken a more conservative approach with each successor. So get rid of punter and Neilsen. Bring Tub in to coach with Kato as captain and get some aggressive tactics back into the side.

Posted by: vc on December 29, 2008 11:12 AM

An earlier post by muk0le was spot on.

Shane Warne commented yesterday that the Aussies needed to get nasty in order to overcome the opposition. Unfortunately, that sums up Aussie cricket over the past few years.

Nasty, unsportsmanlike, arrogant, "in-your-face" and mean spirited.
We may have been the best in the world but the manner in which this was done was disgraceful!!!

Posted by: Brian on December 29, 2008 11:15 AM

The day's play may have been bad for Australia, but good for cricket.
In two tests we've had the second best 4th innings chase in history and the third best 9th wicket partnership.
Looking towards Ashes 2009 (let alone the tour of S.Africa) there's no way you could take Hayden, Symonds or Lee.

Posted by: alpinedingo on December 29, 2008 11:18 AM

Aussies dominated the game for decade and half. It is good that things are more competitive at this point. I think nitpicking things are just looking at smaller picture. Bottom line is team has lost so many cricketers including Greatest of all time(GOAT) like warne/mcgrath/gilchrist. I think this transition time is great for cricket. Ashes next year should be a close affair.

Posted by: Shawmanus on December 29, 2008 11:33 AM

Previously, Ponting had the tools to gloss over the weak captaincy skills. Now that those tools are gone, his real ability to handle the tough pressures is coming to the fore.
How in the world did they have symonds in the team and not Watson is inexplicable.
Dump Hayden and get Jaques or Marsh, get a left arm fast bowler for bringing the variety.

Posted by: jay on December 29, 2008 11:36 AM

Drop Hayden, Melbourne should be his final test. It's selfish of him to keep playing on. Bring in Rogers or Hughes.
Obviously, Lee is out for awhile but should still have something to offer if fit. But how long was he carrying the injury??? Select Hilfenhaus and/or Bollinger. Give Hauritz more time.
Replace Symonds with Watson if his knee is still troublesome.
If Ponting does not improve his captaincy in Sydney then take it away from him. He is too negative and seems to get confused too easily. Keep him at no. 3, let him sort out his batting.
Appoint Warne as captain for the Ashes. Appoint him as one of the selectors as well. This would be similar to Bob Simpson playing again in the late 70s.

Posted by: Am on December 29, 2008 11:37 AM

* Sydney is the only chance to blood new players before 8 overseas tests. So NO FAREWELLS!

* and what's wrong with just being dropped like a man? why retire? why can't Hayden just go back and play for Queensland? make a few tons and we flop in SA and he's a chance for the Ashes still.

after all, Bill Lawry averaged 45 in the shield in 71-2 and some said he should have gone on the 72 tour - couldn't have done worse than Francis, Inverarity or G Watson (when opening)?

* but if he wanted to quit I think they should offer him, and other retirees, including former players (Gillespie) a a lap of honour at the SCG. it's a ripper scene at AFL grannies.

* no to Bracken. never.

* the Brett Lee fan club were conned by his one year indian summer. the weight of history suggested he would decline about now. Alan Davidson he is not.

* and the selectors were culpable for picking him in India when, he alleges, he was ill. poor old Bollinger, the new Casson/Hodge.

* Hussey is nearing the age when guys start thinking about retiring. he could be the modern Ross Edwards, picked late, gawwwn in a blink.

* not convinced that straight swap of Watson for Symonds is the go. the allrounder fetish is costing us. 4 bowlers for Sydney, two of them spinners. 6 batsmen. the best mix of form and talent. Watson may be in the that 6, maybe not? one chance to show it - Sydney.

* imagine what Hilfenhaus must be feeling, all of that hype that he would play for sure. he was used as a wedge on Siddle and Lee.

* so I'd give him a go in Sydney. rest Siddle. horses for courses.

* would the selectors do a Lawry on Ponting? wow...! that would be drama.

* Krejza for Sydney. what they would have done to have a wicket taking spinner yesterday : ) Hauritz got all three wickets from poor sweeps. Krejza bowls people.

* the best spinners are the selectors.

* but the focus on Nielsen is good. he speaks about selections, but should focus on coaching.

* Jonesey has a great riff on the mis-application of AFL "leadership group" theory to cricket - hence the mates' club. he should post it....

and a team from Peter Warrington with two offies. I'd be empowering Katich to channel Kenny Eastwood and let rip. all we need now is Steyn to clock Hauritz and some muppet in the Yabba section to tickle him behind the year, the Springboks to suffer Meredith Burgmann invading the pitch, Rudd to grow some ears, and Life in mars 3 is all there.

Posted by: peter warrington on December 29, 2008 11:40 AM

Hayden must go yet another failure in the second innings must be the end, a new year a new opener.
And when does a player tell a selector when he is retiring, Isnt the selector the one to tell the players ??
While I may be wriong but does an allrounder bowler or is it he an allround good guy sorry Symonds you miss out on both, may be you should just go fishing with Hayden

Posted by: Ian on December 29, 2008 11:48 AM

Srikanth:
"Now Australian players has to learn to play agressive cricket with their Ball and Bat, not with foul mouth and agressive body language.

Ofcourse when learning some thing new will take a while. So we Aussies need to wait!!"

Sic....

"We Aussies?" Are you sure that's what you mean?

Anyway, thank you for your wisdom. Maybe our players can strive to be like your lovely Mr Harbhajan Singh? Or the sportsmanlike Mr Ghambir?

Without Benson and Bucknor in their corner, Australia is not much of a team.

India has finished Australia.

South Africa is enjoying India's work and playing Oz without Lee & Stuart Clark.

India is #1, SA #2.

Posted by: Tony on December 29, 2008 12:13 PM

The real troubles with Australian cricket lie with the 'era of the sychophants'.

Improvement comes through harsh critique of ones practices, not through giving all and sundry one-more-chance.

Yesterday was a capitulation... a leadership devoid of ideas allowing two young fast bowlers bowl without full support.

Something is amiss when Ponting is either not getting solid advice from his senior players, or is not open to it... Either way their flaws were fully exposed yesterday...

Posted by: Ian on December 29, 2008 12:13 PM

Congratulations are due to this very fine South African team. They are comprehensively outplaying Australia at our own game. But we have not prepared well for this defining series. Our leadership has been found wanting all the way from the selectors, the coaching staff and the captain. No one has picked up, as the New Zealanders did, the flaws that crept into Hayden's technique. Mitchell Johnston is being allowed to bowl with serious deficiencies. He is a talent inthe making, but surely he should be encouraged to develop an inswinger, impossible with his current bowling action. The Captain has led with little imagination or flair, games seem to drift under his stewardship. A fine fielder/batsman, he deserves his place,but should do the honourable thing and acknowledge that he is not the man to inspire the side to greater levels. The selectors seem intent on preserving superannuation benefits for the team rather than showing a beacon for the direction of our national game. Perhaps the time is ripe for Jack Clarke and the Board of Cricket Australia to step in. A wholesale cleanout might condemn us to a couple of defeats, but attitudes need to change..from the top down. Well played South Africa, I hope we can construct a side to challenge you in the near future.

Posted by: currapab on December 29, 2008 12:14 PM

Ponting had the strongest team in the world containing Warne, McGrath & Gillchrist...yet his insipid, uninspired captaincy still managed to lose the Ashes. He can’t blame his team. He has proven he is incapable with the best and we have persisted with him ever since. He is a spoilt dummy spitting brat and offers no leadership to the younger players we are now relying on and offers no positive onfield tactics. Watching yesterdays play was like watching the entire 2005 Ashes series all over again…

Hildich, Merv & Boonie must accept some responsibility for the lack of talent development over the last 4 or 5 years, but leaving Pointing at the helm of a sinking ship is utter neglect. Clark had demonstrated in his rare captaincy appointments that he is positive, aggressive and fires up his players. It is time to make him permanent.

Posted by: MH on December 29, 2008 12:18 PM

I think the selectors should answer to the public the question on what defines an allrounder. We constantly hear in the media that Andrew Symonds is selected as an allrounder yet in the Perth test he only bowled 3 overs.

If Symonds infury prcludes him from bowling then he should be replaced by another allrounder or if selected as a No 6 batsmen then why are Brad Hodge, David Hussey etc not coming into consideration.

The selectors have had it easy and only made changes when forced upon them form retirements and injury in recent years and it is now time for them to do some work. Apart from fiddling with the spin bowler department and screwing with Shane Watson, (allrounder in waiting) when was the last time the selectors actually "dropped" someone

Posted by: Wayne on December 29, 2008 12:33 PM

If the Aussies spend less time in the gym and more time practising in the field they could play better cricket. I think they have misunderstood a spot in the national team for a modelling career. Yesterday when Siddle was eyeing off Kallis in the first over - it was pathetic. I mean c'on mate, you're a nobody in test cricket and you're eyeing off one of the greats! Take a good look at yourself - you're no McGrath.

Posted by: noname on December 29, 2008 12:51 PM

I don't get it. For years you 'media' types have begged for a contest. You finally get one and you think it's the end of the world.

I bet within 18 months we'll be winning regularly again.

Posted by: Sir Francis on December 29, 2008 1:01 PM

An absolutely parlous performance!!!! Not helped because we have a captain who refuses to go for the jugular and instead sets fields that do not support his bowlers.
However, not all the blame should be aimed at the players. Lets not forget the selectors who have been baffling in their selections. Wake up and realise that we are no longer the number one nation in the world and if we are to stay in touch with India and Sth Africa it will be because we start to give some of the talent at first class level the opportunity to test themselves in an arena such as test cricket.

Posted by: eb on December 29, 2008 1:03 PM

Ponting is not up to leading the team when things are going wrong. It was up to him yesterday to lead the team out of the problems they were facing yet he seemed to be silent on solutions and did not provide the team with much confidence. Decision making is not his thing. Not the leader we need in a tight situation. As for Hayden, have Michael Hussey open the batting and bring his brother, David Hussey, into the side.

Posted by: Dave on December 29, 2008 1:08 PM

It is time they were all paid on performance. They are all highly paid professional sportsmen and still get paid regardless of their performance.
It would not be too long before Hayden was back writing cookbooks.
The way they are going they should all be eligible for a government handout for Christmas 2009.

Posted by: Robyn on December 29, 2008 1:38 PM

BIte the bullet - out with the old, in with the new and demote Ponting from the Captaincy. But who would we give it to, poor old Michael Clarke is about the same two digit IQ as Ponting.
How about the only bloke with some go forward - Haddin?

Posted by: jed clampett on December 29, 2008 1:38 PM

a lot of australia's current situation is the making of poor leadership and selections.

1. ponting is a good batsman but a very poor captain. remove him from captaincy and let him bat at 3

2. pikcing a half fit allroundrer is the biggest mistake and andrew symonds ahs not done enough to be there. why drop watson who performed well in tough conditions in india and play a half fit symonds in a test - idiotic

3. hauritz in one test out the next. he is no patch to krezja who is a superior spinner who did not get wickets in one test - that too at perth where spinners hardly get wikcets. once again sending out the wrong signals

australian arrogance and disrespect for the game is showing now - they are picking and playing people who should not be there..and its good to see them pay the price.

i hope they finally give hayden the tap to go after sydney - pick doug bollinger, watson, hilfenhaus and groom shaun marsh to open in the ashes

If Lee is fit he plays instead of another quick or just take 16 players on tour

Posted by: sid med on December 29, 2008 1:46 PM

Australia are lost at the moment with no direction. South Africa are not necessarily better, they just have a better mindset. And this is solely due to team India. Not only did they stand up to Australia but beat them at their own game. Anyone accusing India of being brats need only to look at the recent England-India series. It was played in great spirit with the "correct" amount of chat on field (Flintoff / Yuvraj). Compare that to the Aus series and the only thing missing is the Aus team itself! (Doesnt take much to figure out the equation)

Posted by: vsin116 on December 29, 2008 1:54 PM

Look at any sporting champion, no matter what the sport, and you will find that their most successful years are inevitably between the ages of 22 - 28. How a 37 year old can kid himself that he can still cut it at international level is beyond me.

Time to wake up Australia. We should be blooding the next batch of 20 years olds now.

Posted by: Bob Power on December 29, 2008 1:58 PM

Wayne, the selectors are very good at dropping Krejza. Twice in three months.

they also dropped Jaques, bizarrely, in India, after giving him multiple chances in the latter end of last summer and then against the Windies - lo and behold, he finally cracked the ton they had been asking for, and they dropped him for the next match (to allow Hayden back in, and it only escaped scrutiny because Jaques then broke down).

it goes back to the dropping of Martyn, Clarke and Katich after the Ashes. despite it yielding Hussey and Hodge, the players have probably never forgiven the selectors (who should have acted in england, before the series was lost.)

I must write that book...

Posted by: peter warrington on December 29, 2008 1:59 PM

Is it just me or is Hayden one of the most selfish cricketers ever (other than Ponting who quite happily sacrificed a potential win in the 4th test in Nagpur in order to preserve his own hide)?

By refusing to retire (which he should have done 12 months ago) Hayden is making it clear that he has no interest in the future wellbeing of Australian cricket, but rather is merely protecting his financial interests, as he realises that cookbook sales will not see him through to 65.

Ponting is a clueless leader, and reminds me of George W Bush, ie both are heavily despised by their own country folk, both are grossly incompetent at their respective leadership roles and incapable of decision making under pressure, one is a lame duck, the other has been known to rack them up (even on ‘flat, timid’ surfaces such as the WACA).

Ponting should give up the captaincy to Katich. Who ever nicknamed him 'Punter'? He is anything but...

Posted by: Rohan on December 29, 2008 2:07 PM

This has been looming for years. People mention the big three, Gilly, McGrath and Warnie, they also seem to forget, Martyn, Langer and Dizzy. I seem to remember another great Australian Era finishing in the 80's and the new team got belted for years.

The team in the 80's had one experience player in their entire line up. Why on earth would we want to go through that again? I agree that some changes need to be made, but they need to be made in the right positions. There is no point having a completely inexperienced line up, because as soon as it gets tight, they will not be able to handle it.

As for the Indian supporters that are continually bombarding the Australian team, I hate to tell you this, but Tenduklar, Dravid, Sehwag (Ganguly and Kumble already gone) are not going to be around forever. Your time to shine is now, but it will not always be the case.

I like to think of the fact that Indian fans have continuously told me how arrogant the Australians were when they won - Pot calling the kettle black if you ask me

Posted by: Craig on December 29, 2008 2:08 PM

Give clarke a go at the captaincy. Retain Ponting as a Batsman. Bring in Hughes or Marsh in place of Hayden, Hilfenhaus or Bollinger for Lee (assuming Clarke is unfit). Bring in Watson for Symonds. I wouldn't replace Hussey yet.Let Siddle develop. Previous new selections have usually been given a few tests to settle in. Retain Hauritz but give him an attacking field.
Ponting stands apart from previous successful aussie captains like Ian Chappell, Border, Taylor and Waugh in not being able to think on his feet. It seems a plan is set in the dressing room. And when it is not working he looks lost.
There's a lot to like about the Saffas but they have only dominated on day 5 of the 1st test and 3 of the second. A bit early to crow. The Indians are a good team, although they are coming good at a time when half the team is about to retire. I like their cricket, their whingeing and hypocrisy makes it hard to take them too seriously. Just a bunch of try hards. The current Saffers conduct themselves in a way that invites much more respect.

Posted by: ozzie on December 29, 2008 2:11 PM

Get new selectors and get rid of players who have a reputation and no form......you dont field injured and out of form players - the arrogance of the selectors against a very energetic South Africa has come home to roost

Posted by: norm on December 29, 2008 2:34 PM

Of course they are simply not good enough. It's a no brainer. Where should they go from here? Well, they are a bunch of arrogant uneducated losers. They can only talk and act like chicken, they should simply quit the team and work for KFC

Posted by: Aussie cricketers suck on December 29, 2008 2:53 PM

RR - at this point we have not lost....

and 'lossers' is in no dictionary I own. India have learned to be bad winners too. I'm guessing you're one of them, and India is not even playing. Gloat elsewhere you illiterate plonker.

Posted by: Grant on December 29, 2008 2:58 PM

The selectors need some balls. Drop the out-of-form players and promote the in-form players. If there was greater flow between the 2 levels, then out-of-form players could go back to their state side knowing that it would be easier to get back into the national side

I feel sorry for all the state players who never get a chance to represent Australia simply because the national side is a protected species

Posted by: Daniel on December 29, 2008 3:00 PM

it`s time to cook the christmas TURKEY !

Posted by: grazzer on December 29, 2008 3:16 PM

Today proves that hayden and Symonds surely have played their last tests for Australia. Go fishing boys, we all have some great memories of you, Hayden with his flashing blade, Symonds with his flashing fists, but you boys are past it. Form players deserve to be picked now, not selectors and sponsors favourites. Pick a team to win the 3rd test based on current form and not ego and reputation. Aussie have had it too good for too long and don't know how to bring the youth through, and now we pay the price. Aussie will be a true world no.3 by the end of the Sydney test and heaven forbid, even the poms will have a decent shot at beating them . scary thought!

Posted by: Glenn Haslem on December 29, 2008 3:42 PM

i think the real problem with australia is their selection system and their stupidity and arrogance in introducing players in their 30s.it will all be well if the players like hussey straightaway come in and start performing but if they dont as they are dong now u cant back them for too long cos they havent the age on their sides.if u back a youngster of 20 years of age atleast if he takes a year to settle down he wil give u ten years back.also i think the senior players selfishness in playing all odis before and not giving too much space even in odis to have a look at the the youngsters has badly affected them.if a few youngsters had been introduced then they would have learnt a few things from warne and co but now in this atmosphere of caonstant deafeat u cant do that.also ricky pontng needs to back lee and nod humiliate him like that .he is not fit now thats all.unless the selection system changes i dont see too many things changing in aus cricket cos u cant get mcgraths always u will have to get the best of what u have

Posted by: deepak on December 29, 2008 3:43 PM

Ponting is not creative and the selectors are not brave. The team does not know how to lift to become competitive against a superior opposition because for so long we have been the best. Pontings life in cricket came out of the period of supremacy. With Steve Waugh at the helm he was cruising at the top in a batting line up rfom cricket heaven. As captain he had the best of the best at his disposal and the game of confidence breeds competence. The new players proved this. Hussey, Clarke. Now, under pressure he has no amswers for questions he has never faced. He is not a leader of men. He does not respond to the opposition offensive or stand up to the onslaught. He is like a good big kid in the street who creams the little blokes then spits the dummy and goes home when he gets out and blames every one else on the way. He is not gracious in victory or defeat and does not accept praise without deflection when he is brilliant as an individual, which is what he is and is what he offers. He is a solo show, a punter, he is a great batsman but not a leader of men at the best of times let alone under siege.

The selectors are not looking to strength and talent but hiding behind the dwindling statistics of falling reputations. Simons for Watson, well umm might have worked but didn't, Lee is crook for all to see, Creyza, Hauritz, who else have they tried? Who is the new opener being groomed? Lets hope they don't crucify Phillip Hughes out of desparation but give him a life in State cricket before shoving him to the front line to save their own sorry ineptitude. How many went to the West Indies and India and then were left out unexplained? Australia needs to learn again how to rise up and to do that we have to carry the can of defeat and deficiency for the summer.

Posted by: Chris on December 29, 2008 3:51 PM

Cricket my friends is a great leveler.

We just need to accept that the Australian dominance is now coming to a close on the cricket field..but that doesn’t mean that Australia wont dominate once again.

I believe its now time for South Africa or India to dominate…most likely it will be India…We have seen the West Indian team dominate prior to the Australians…I think its just part of the cricketing cycle. One team can not stay on top forever.

Lets just enjoy our cricket. I think its fantastic that we have even competition once again..

Happy New Year to you all.

Ashwin

Posted by: Ashwin on December 29, 2008 4:06 PM

I say you chaps, why are you all being so beastly to Ricky and his aging chums. I just want them all to know that they'll all be jolly welcome to come back to England to play us again for the Ashes. We would all be frightfully upset if charming, witty old Hayden didn't come back one more time and everyone is looking forward so much to seeing Andrew Symonds happy smiling face one more time. When I think of dear Ricky's captaincy and how rotten you chaps are being, I can't help thinking of another great and misunderstood leader, George Bush. Anyway when a chap's not terribly bright its pretty bad form to point it out to him. Even clever chaps make mistakes, its just that these fellows are really unlucky and seem to make lots more than most.
So please do the right thing and let Ricky and all his chums come to see us in England again. They all want to come (and they probably need the pocket money) and we'll try really hard not to annoy them like the last time.

Posted by: Ed on December 29, 2008 4:09 PM

Its one thing to criticise the teams performance and yes its true the Aussies havent been playing that well. But what I find interesting is all the venom being spewed out by the people from the sub continent. Most of the comments relate to player personalities and personal attacks. Have a look at the characters in your own teams before attacking our players.

Posted by: chris on December 29, 2008 4:17 PM

The pain of watching the Australian performance on Sunday was too much for me and i had to turn it off. In this critical test match, already one down in the series and South Africa in trouble with 6 or 7 out for less than 200 on the board - there is no excuse for not taking a lead into the second innings. The test match was there for the taking, yet the Aussies just didn't seem interested. Now another horrible performance has Australia now around 7/193, a lead of just 129. So unless there is some kind of miraculous tail end revival, this test will be over by the end of the first session tomorrow.

I put 80% of the blame squarely on Ricky Ponting. He has no sense of the moment. Events occur at critical times within a test match and he fails to re-act, or take up the challenge. Evidence of this is obvious in the recent test series in India where he bowled his part timers to avoid getting a match suspension for slow over rate. India were on the ropes at that critical moment and Australia had an opportunity to finish them off and square the series - but he failed. He failed again yesterday in cleaning up the South African tail enders. He just does not have the ability to inspire his team or to support his bowlers with smart field placings. In fact i would suggest that he doesn't support his team at all and puts himself before all else.

Whilst i do not subscribe to the argument that the selectors should have bought in new blood earlier (in the era where McGrath, Warne, Langer and Gilchrist were all still playing) as you must select the best team for the occasion, regardless of age. However, i do place the last 20% on the selectors for failing to select players who obviously deserve the opportunity and dropping those who's form has dropped. Playing injured players (Symonds) who cannot obviously fulfil the capacity to which they are selected for, is inexcusable. Surely some system that requires a certain average to be achieved to justify your place in the team should be implemented. Such a system may have seen Hayden replaced by Hughes already and it reduces the appearance of the 'boys club' mentality as the players performance must justify their selection.

Regardless of selection though, it takes 11 (or possibly 12) players to win a test match. Whilst one or two players can have a significant contribution to the match, it takes a competant captain to focus the efforts of individuals. This is why Australia will lose this match, this series, and future series whilst Pontint remains at the helm.

Posted by: Karl on December 29, 2008 4:33 PM

Australia ought to play tests
with Canada, they might beat them ... provided Hayden, Lee, Symonds and Ponting are given a boot.

Posted by: Eero on December 29, 2008 4:36 PM

from what we have seen from the tailenders with the bat should we be considering dropping the allrounder and bringing in an extra bowler?

Posted by: Anonymous on December 29, 2008 4:48 PM

Ricky is still the world's best bestman and its just a passing phase(bad) for Australia.

They will come back strongly as they did post ashes loss.

The batsman are not constitent and can't Shaun Marsh replace Hayden

Posted by: Sangeeth on December 29, 2008 4:49 PM

Proteas are better than the Australian team fact. I could not believe the Aussie tactics. were they trying to bore the South African tail to death? because they didn't seem to be trying to get them out by normal means. No aggro, no pressure,no idea,all negative tactics

Posted by: nickh on December 29, 2008 4:50 PM

For a start all those who keep saying that players like Waugh, McGrath and Warne played too long take a reality check for goodness sake! The reason they kept playing was that they were still playing great cricket and were world beaters right up until their retirements. With the Australian team so dominant why would you bring in new blood just for the sake of it?

Everyone is so worked up about this transition phase that this team is going through. Up until the Indian tour this year we were still dominating teams and even won the World Cup without our greats (except Gilchrist).

The fact is when you have been so dominant for so long it's only natural that after a period of time you are going to eventually come back to the pack. I think the current situation is made to look worse by the fact that 2 of our strike bowlers are injured and a number of our batsmen are hopelessly out of form (Hayden, Hussey and Symonds). I mean if you think about it when was the last time we had a fully fit, in form team? Last summer if I recall correctly and we were good enough to beat a tough Indian team at home.

Australia is oozing talent at state level and there are a number of superb players capable of playing at international level. They will get their chance soon enough and will take Australia back to the top of world cricket. Keep the Faith Australia our time will come (again).

Posted by: Swampy on December 29, 2008 5:16 PM

We certainly have to do a massive overhaul. Hayden and Symmonds have to go. They have past their best. I reckon that Lee should be given some break. His marriage break down clearly has a significant effect. Ponting must step down as captain. He doesn't have a clue on what to do without Warnie, Pigeon, Gilly and Alf. I reckon that Katich should be appointed as captain. He has shown that he is a good captain with NSW.

Posted by: Adrian Halim on December 29, 2008 5:18 PM

Bring back Warnie and offer him the captaincy. He would prob jump at the chance...His performances as captain in the IPL and county are superior in addition he would prob score more runs and get more wickets at 50 then the current mob.

On a more serious note Ponting has had it too easy with great players who he can throw the ball to or rely on to rescue the side ( esp Hussey) hence his captaincy has never needed to develop.

I thing Tait deserves a chance at least he got some wickets in India.

Hayden, Lee and Symonds all need to go back to state cricket if they do well there they can get immediate selection in the next test/one day. If not other players deserver a go.

Posted by: Ben on December 29, 2008 5:25 PM

Time for Hayden and Simmons to take up fishing on a full time basis.

Posted by: Glenn on December 29, 2008 5:32 PM

This Australian side has been kept together one season too long. The signs of fatigue and lack of hubris, gilded by selfless promotions off the field, have taken the edge off.

Hayden first and foremost has lingered two series too long and should have been tapped up end of last summer. Remember the Waughs, Border, Taylor, Slater, Healy, and so forth? Best removed one season early than one season too late. The individual legacy remains untarnished departing one season early.

Mentally, Lee has not been there. The personal toll wears down even the strongest of us and his personal toll has been long as it was deep. Time away from the game, to realise his mortality, get away and recharge, refresh, seek counsel; that is his only way back. A Lee at less than 100% effort is unacceptable. Witness his bowling average climbing into the thirties again and his lack of fortitude.

As for Symonds, he is not a recognised number six. His only reason for team retention were his other strings to his bow, his ability to bowl and field. He can do neither well presently and he too is mentally challenged by personal demons. There are far more gifted batters deserving of a chance or if perservering with the all-rounder, Shane Watson is far more menacing as a bowler and batter presently and most likely in future.

Ideally, short term, the Sydney test should see a straight swap of Symonds for Watson. The dropping off Lee be replaced short term by Krezja, who has been unfairly dismissed. Longer term, either groom another opener to replace Hayden. Jaques is deserving once he returns from injury and finds form, while the other Hussey has a wealth of experience and a swag of runs, not unlike how his brother forced his way into the test side.

Posted by: Rollo on December 29, 2008 5:32 PM

Blame it on the selectors & Ricky Pontings inept captaincy. Time to get rid of the old boys club & introduce new blood, batsman who score runs & bowlers who take wickets. it's quite simple really

Posted by: redball on December 29, 2008 5:48 PM

There is no quick fix to this.

I think Shane Warne is the man to rebuild an Australian side.
Clear the decks and bring in the best performing State players.
At least Warne will attack.

It reminds me of the days when Alan Border had to rebuild the side.

Posted by: Thomas Bromhead on December 29, 2008 6:05 PM

Aussie's are missing Steve Bucknoor. Bring him back and Aussie'e will start winning test again

Posted by: Praveen on December 29, 2008 6:15 PM

After watching the last few tests it is clear we are now no.3 in the world and I’m not at all convinced of our chances in England next year. Several things need to happen, Hayden, Symonds and Lee should be moved on immediately and young blood, Rogers or Hughes, Watson and Hilfenhaus/Bollinger bought in and given time to perform. Ponting needs to go back to the future and adopt a Border like attitude with this team… too many times individuals in this team are relying on others to perform (an attitude that has bred through the Warne/McGrath era) or are displaying reckless attitudes, this can longer happen in a era where Australia is in no way guaranteed taking 20 wickets in a match.

I also think that the coach Nielsen has much blame to shoulder… tactically Ponting and co. have been found wanting. Where and what has Nielsen’s input been into how Australia has shaped their tactics? Whatever his input it clearly isn’t right nor enough… what we need is a John Buchanan type of coach now… very analytical and knows how to devise realistic plans that a team can carry out.

Even if all this was to happen I wouldn’t expect Australia to dominate, rather be competitive. We are in for a rough ride over the next 2-3 years make no bones about it.

Posted by: TomB on December 29, 2008 6:23 PM

Its all because of India. They have hurt our PSYCHE and made our board look like dogs. The board tells us to quiet down and we cant play as we always play to win. The board did not support our boys during the harbhajan affair and they fell flat to this rich indians. ITS AN INDIAN CONSPIRACY. CMON AUSSIES GET BACK TO WHAT YOU DO BEST. WIN AND WIN AT ALL COST.

Posted by: John on December 29, 2008 6:27 PM

Watson should have been in Perth and Melbourne and we'd have had different results. It is unbelievable the the selectors would pick an unfit Symonds over Watson who performed well in India.

Posted by: al on December 29, 2008 6:31 PM

Is Ponting on the take? Back to back series losses including, ever more likely, 3-zip at home. Some of the most inexplicable captaincy decisions in recent times including playing an injured bowler, an injured all-rounder and an out of form opener. Twice now he's been in a winning position and taken the ball away from his front-line bowlers.

Stranger things have happened.

Posted by: jofek on December 29, 2008 6:40 PM

Denial has been the problem, and the fans and public in Australia are equally to blame, calling it the "Tall poppy syndrome" when anyone criticised the teams arrogance and boorish behaviour on and off the field. Then in Sydney it all blew up with Monkeygate and the team has not been the same ever since. Symonds is still recovering, Hayden has been a ghost of his self , and they were the main Aussie contingent along with Ponting and Clarke in Monkeygate, it ended with Aussies losing focus and allowed the rest of the world to see the chinks and exploit them.
Now since the Poppies are not so tall anymore, anyone still see the syndrome ?

Posted by: Red Pascal on December 29, 2008 6:41 PM

will somebody pls explain to me the contracts players have with CA?
i'm puzzled why CA can't pick whoever they want to play for AU based on performance ....

Posted by: A fan on December 29, 2008 6:42 PM

Well it was clear after the humiliation in India & in Perth too that the team needs some big changes. But the selectors blindly ignore the fact & recalled the 'Troubled' Andrew symonds.With Symonds not able to bowl watson has to sit in the dressing room!

The best thing for sydney would be( its obvious that SA will win before lunch) bringing Watson & Hilfenhuss in.

Posted by: Yugal on December 29, 2008 6:43 PM

I don't know how many of you out there are old enough to remember 1984 but it's no different - the retirement of Lillee, Marsh & Chappell decimated the foundations of the Australian team and took the career of captain Kim Hughes with it not to mention our standing in world cricket for at least 5 years and the Ashes triumph in England in 1989. If Allan Border wasn't good enough to prevent us from losing to the likes of New Zealand in successive home and way series in 1985/86 or match it with England in 1985 or home in 1986/87 against a mediocre side can you expect a smooth transition which has seen the likes of McGrath, Warne, Martyn, Gilchrist, McGill and Gillespie depart the team in recent seasons?

It's hard not to feel a little incredulous about the manner in which Australia has squandered defining moments in this series but it's churlish to lose the wider perspective here. Regardless that Ponting's field settings and captaincy has been under par, that Hilditch & Co have been guilty of nepotism and consistent bad calls in both India (please let's never see Cameron White in the baggy green again - ever!!) and Australia, that our tail enders have had to wag for four innings in a row to cover for a top order bereft of form and that Johnson aside, we no longer have a bowling attack that can reliably take 20 wickets in 5 days...Australia have been simply outplayed by a hungry, consistent and focused South African unit who has let's face it, woefully underperformed consistently against Australia when it matters most over the last 16 years. Their moment of glory is well deserved...for now.

Is this the end of Australian dominance of world cricket? For the mean while perhaps, but the first class competition and Cricket Australia infrastructure is second to none internationally. Changes in the selection panel and perhaps the captaincy and few minor changes and a gutsy call or two (either Bollinger or Hilfenhaus for Lee, Watson for Symonds and time to retire Hayden) and we will still win more matches than we'll lose.

Let's welcome competition, a decent fight and the challenge to be on top again...and for all those who think India are ruling the roost just try and win series away from home consistently before you claim the number 1 mantle - you can't blackmail the ICC or buy that that title with oay TV money. All credit to South Africa for consistent form and earning the title by being the first to win on Australian soil since 1992/93.

Posted by: queenslander on December 29, 2008 6:48 PM

The problem starts with an arogant selection panel who seem incapable of breaking free of their narrow view and connections. Firstly two bowlers who should now have been making a difference in this series have found that their careers and confidence went backwards after being introduced into the Australian setup. A confident firing Beau Casson and Doug Bollinger would've loved a bowl at the South African tail. Time was you had to prove yourself before you got back into the Australian team after injury - ask Steve Waugh. Yet Matthew Hayden was given an arm chair ride without first proving to himself as much as anyone else that he could still cut it in Shield cricket. Andrew Symonds is playing exactly as he did when he was playing for Queensland at the start of the season - throwing his wicket away and not really looking all that interested. Yet he's rushed back as a saviour and keeps doing the same thing. Is anyone who follows cricket really surprised? With these selectors some are given an extended run "because we know they'll come good", while others can excel in any opportunity they get and are immediately discarded. I'm sure Shane Watson and Jason Krezja as well as Casson and Bollinger could've thrived if they's had the chances others are given. As for playing Symonds on one leg, that beggars belief and can only give out a message of absolute arrogance. Hilditch was an adequate state cricketer and may well have made an adequate state selector for South Australia, but it's time for him to be brave enough to say "I've stuffed up - goodbye".

Posted by: Bernie on December 29, 2008 6:51 PM

I would like to know who was ultimately responsible for the field that Krezja bowled to in the WACA test. The field he bowled to was the cause of the runs he bled. I suspect the real culprit is Ponting how started with the same field when Hauritz began to bowl. Can't blame the bowler there.

Ponting was quick out of the blocks to blame his bowlers and ignored the other problems in his team until after the selectors had picked the side he wanted for Melbourne. While batting well, Ponting is not leading well. This is an issue that needs to be reviewed.

The selectors and the ACB need to ask some hard questions about the unsatifactory Melbourne performance.

Posted by: Greg Mc on December 29, 2008 6:52 PM

This series looks like it will be lost.
THAT HAPPENS.
Sydney test should be a good time to replace those who are currently not up to it.( read form,injury,ability)

12th man Symonds for the sydney test Watson to play and open. technically correct and opens in the 50/50. Reminds me of Hayden in his early days...very wooden...needs to be allowed the freedom to play his natural game for the next 4 tests vs SA to see what happens.

Posted by: sbw on December 29, 2008 7:03 PM

It's not the end of the world. Remember, Australia was in a very strong position to win both these matches. It took something extraordinary to happen to lose them. I'm not letting Ponting off the hook, or anyone else, but I honestly don't think the situation is anywhere near as bad as the results on paper are showing.
We've had an extraordinary amount of just horrible luck this year. We could have won the series in India too - remember the first test, anyone? - that series was decided by the tosses; flat tracks meant that the team batting first could not lose - and never ever looked like it in any of the games. India won three tosses. If Australia had won three, Australia would have at least drawn the series.

India and SA aren't that good. India hasn't won a series outside of India for years. They have no right to be considered better than Australia. They lost in Ausralia fair and square, despite the endless whining and moaning and groaning that "we were robbed" which hasn't abated to this day (like a broken record - just look at every single blog including this one, about anything to do with Australia and 90% by Indian posts are just repeating the same old cry-me-to-sleep story and adding nothing to the discussion). India lost the Sydney test by 130 runs. It wasn't even close. Get over it.

Posted by: Jay on December 29, 2008 7:17 PM

We were robbed, you play dirty! It's not fair! Boo hoo.

Lots of hate,

India

Posted by: The loveless Guru on December 29, 2008 7:20 PM

Pointing was lucky to have the all time cricket legends like Glenn, Warne & Gilly, he was enjoying the success only because of these blokes who was there in the team and they kept on performing well.

Now it has come to a stage, where the young team has to perform, and pointing is going out of options. As far as bowling is concerned, i think Australians doesnt have the bowling attack which can take 20 wickets in 5 days.. so we need to accept the fact that australian's dominance is over in world cricket.

Its time to give up captancy RICKY.

Posted by: Jithya Sam on December 29, 2008 7:26 PM

David Samuel is on the money. Hilditch must go, and the team neds a thorough clean-out. All good things come to an end, as England & the Windies discovered. Now it's our turn, get used to it. Stop bleating, star rebuilding, from the local level up.

Posted by: Belknap on December 29, 2008 7:28 PM

I can't help agree with 99% of the comments re Ponting,batting and bowling.I'd like to add that Ponting showed no leadership or imagination in bowling changes or field settings.4th day he opens the bowling with injured Lee who did his normal and gave Smith 4 runs 1st ball to get him off the mark,then bled runs everywhere.Ever heard of pressure or creating mistakes by using pressure?Why not open with Johnson,he's the only one who looks like taking wickets.It appears as though we have a set routine to work to and it's to hard to think out of the square. Now appears time to bring in new talent,but how much is around?

Posted by: Gordon on December 29, 2008 7:34 PM

I have followed the Aussies through its stages of rebuilding, domination and current state of decline. The tried and tested formula that paid rich dividends for quite a while -
1) Four bowlers (1 or 2 of those who can bat and bowl or vice versa)
2)Umpires ( 1 or 2 who can give carefully timed decisions during the match (who gets out and who stays not out) so as to tilt the balance in favor of the Aussies
3) 12 (including the twelth man and/or the referee) to sledge and browbeat the opposition into submission
History is witness to the fact that it was greats like Border, Waugh, Gilchrist and McGrath who saw this simple strategy for domination put in place with unsurpassed success. Now that these masters are no longer around, and the wheels have been taken off the Aussie machine systematically, by India first and SA now, the long overdue realization must have come to the Aussie fans that even this three pronged strategy falls apart in face of talented opposition who have replicated the same model and supplemented it with some real good cricket (coming from talented cricketers of their own).
Question is can Australia find another Warne, McGrath and Waugh? Perhaps yes... in the shape of Sean Marsh, Mitchell and Watson who while not being the exact match, do seem to be talented young blokes.
But for achieving any sort of success they will also need to play some good cricket and do so in the right spirit of the game.

Michael Clarke cannot be the Aussie captain in this pusuit.

Posted by: Casper on December 29, 2008 7:42 PM

I guess, nobody should read too much. There is a problem with selection too. Injured or non-100% fit players should not have been taken at all like Symonds. Lee might have got injured during play hence, it is ok. Hayden should go and play domestic matches to regain lost confidence. Neverthless, an important point for Oz is to know that other teams like SA or India are catching up with the Oz. The gap between Oz and the SA and India is dminishing hence, results seen in the last few weeks are 100% plausible. It was India which started the trend of beating Oz in Perth and now SA did too. In summary, there is a greater incentive to watch matches between Oz and SA and India.

Posted by: Krishna on December 29, 2008 7:44 PM

Australia is paying for their arrogance. Cricket finds a way to humble you when you get out of hand. I love how Mark Taylor and Bill Lawry on TV squirm when Austrlia is getting hammered. Bad losers all. Maybe this series will also teach them to be a bit more balanced. I remember Taylor's comment when Duminy hit the shot to win the last Test match "Austrlia will take a close look at all the negatives and so will South Africa.." before realizing how idiotic it sounded and finishing it off with "..but they will look at the positives for now..". Moron.

Posted by: Vijay on December 29, 2008 7:54 PM

well i guess ponting is still livin in mcgrath & warne era...
he needs 2 come out it..
axe hayden...rest hussey..(remmbr if they can rest stuart clark wen they toured india) why nt them
shaun marsh,phil jacques are in waitin...shane watson has done nothin wrong then why all this wid him...
bret lee is injured i think it may be blessin in disguise for team n him also...
haddin is also a mediocre player...

Posted by: raj on December 29, 2008 8:16 PM

The Ozzie hegemony has come to an end much to the benefit for the game. They never behaved like the world beaters like their illustrious predecessors, the great Windies.
Windies never gloated their supremacy and never uttered obnoxious languages like "we are targeting this and that" before the start of the series in the guise of aggression etc., They were always modest and respected their opposition howsoever weak they were and in any case the marauding Windies of the eighties would have trashed any of the Ozzie great teams be it the “invincible” or that “Waugh’s Warriors”
In any case with the retirement of once in a century bowlers like Warney and Glen the days of the Ozzie dominance were numbered and they fully deserve this for what they did on that shameful day at Sydney in the beginning of 2008!!!

Posted by: Gernot on December 29, 2008 8:29 PM

It starts with introducing better players. How can Brett Lee be the spearhead of the bowling attack when he averages 30 runs a wicket over his career? In addition U have to ask how whether Mike Hussey is really a quality nr 4. He was good @ 6 - away from the fresh bowlers and a newish ball - but is struggling @ 4

Posted by: Ian on December 29, 2008 8:32 PM

This test series confirms what most of us already knew....that Tim Neilsen was the poorest possible choice to coach the Australian cricket team, and that the panel of selectors are now reaping the whirlwind of their mediocre selections.

Speaking of mediocre, these selections defy all common sense and logic as I see it. Is the objective not to win the series against South Africa?

If so, then why play an out of form and way past his prime batsmen like Matty Hayden? A certain liability and handicap, an advantage that has served the South Africans well in this series.

Speaking of form, why isn't Hussey relegated to first class cricket? On recent form, his credentials have not impressed at all. Another liability that has worked to the South Africans advantage!

Is Andrew Symonds a specialist batsmen or bowler or an all rounder? The selectors need to explain this one to me. If he is a specialist batsman, then I can see nothing special. If he is a specialist bowler, I haven't seen anything at all! If he is both, why not use him as both?

Ponting's captaincy lacks both maturity and imagination. A good coach would address this immediately. But yet again, Tim Neilsen demonstrates a poor coaching acumen and in my opinion, inspires no confidence in the team whatsoever.

This is a poorly balanced team, poorly coached, poorly captained and poorly managed. It's a halfway house for out of form batsmen, overpaid wannabes and walking wounded.

Be that as it may, the selectors must take the ultimate blame. They are up against a champion South African team that in many ways, is now a reflection of what our team once was.

However, the selectors have proven once again that the needs of a few outweigh the needs of the many.

Posted by: Daz on December 29, 2008 8:32 PM

The aussie cricketers need to spend more time being chircketers and less time being media "personalities".
There was a time when it was an honour just to play for australia - now the cricketer just use it to promote their off field activites.
Need to sack anyone who is not committed 100% to the Australian CRICKET team....ie anyone with a media, music, acting, television etc contract.

Posted by: GJUU on December 29, 2008 8:33 PM

Can anyone remember what happened to the great West Indian team.. They all grew old at the same time and there was no younger guys ready to take over and be taught.
The same thing is happpening here. Get rid of all the old burnt out guys like Hayden and Symonds and replace them now. The new guys will lear from the older established players. Hughes, Bollinger,Marsh, David Hussey,Jacques etc should be there now.

Posted by: speedy2460 on December 29, 2008 8:33 PM

We should just let Peter Roebuck be selector/captain because is he does think he's the only one that can fix the the Australian side.
There are 11 in a cricket side and if he watched the game he would of noticed that the Australian captain scored over 30% of their team runs, so Mr Roebuck take your writing skills and start mentioning the other 10 players.

Posted by: Greg on December 29, 2008 8:33 PM

A vast majority of Indians believe in Karmabhala,that is in simple words getting your comeuppance in your own time.The Australian Cricket teams' confidence on and off the field was for a long time bordering on the arrogant.So long as superlative Team performance with a touch of the right amount of diplomacy that marked the Border,Taylor and Waugh era,the team was repected ,if not always liked.Ponting and his superstars like Hayden andSymonds honed the arrogance into avituperave levels.Their behaviour or rather misbehaviour with Indians last summer was the beginning of the decline and fall of the great Australian Cricket empire.While the others carried on well,these three have gone into pathetic decline in form .It is not likely that they can recover their lost glory.All because of the sins they committed against a reasonably decent but unnecessarily provoked Indian Team.Unlike the Roman Empire,the fall of Ponting's men may prove to be quick and steep.

Posted by: chandra on December 29, 2008 8:36 PM

This decline started after the Ashes 2005 when the Aussies went on a surprising II run of ruling the world. The earlier greats like Border, Warne, Waugh, Taylor and McGrath were proud and modest. Of late, the Aussie players were not modest, forget humble. Remember the arrogance of Hayden, Symonds and Ponting himself. Nobody minds losing to good players but getting beated up by a bunch of bullies was too much. This has led to all the cricket playing nations hating these players personally, and playing above and beyond themselves when playing against this bunch. I am happy to see them fall apart, though I feel sad and sorry for Binga.

A suggestion, replace these three oafs and you will see sportsmen competing, and not enemies willing to win or die trying.

Posted by: Madhavi on December 29, 2008 8:37 PM

Australia need more tactical players who depend on technique rather than on brute strength. Technique matures with age unlike brute force. This is the time to remember well that cricket is a game of intelligence and character.

Tony d

Posted by: Tony Daniel on December 29, 2008 8:38 PM

I cannot believe what a negative person Mt Roebuck is. For christ's sale man stop your constant whining and show some support.

It may come as a shock to you but everyone involved in cricket is human and NOT a Roebuck hindsight robot.

Posted by: Barry Wilson on December 29, 2008 8:39 PM

Australia have played for a couple of decades now but others like SA, India, have improved and climbed upto challenge the Aussies. I think the Kangaroos have been needlessly arrogant and still think they can beat everyone. If they start respecting the opposition, use less expletives and concentrate on the game rather than ill-tempered aggressiveness they can stay good performers. Of course we don't need polarisation in cricket with one dominant force!

Posted by: pradeep bellave on December 29, 2008 8:45 PM

The once perennial fall guy,Andrew Katich, is now one of the few that can be certain of selection. He is also a shrewd tactician and could easily fill the Captains shoes. I would keep Ponting in the side but let Katich take over Captaincy. There is no-way I could let Michael Clarke take over the reigns. Next game in Sydney get rid of Hayden and Symonds. Bring in Watson and either Rogers or Hughes. It's time!!!!

Posted by: Donald Dorrigo on December 29, 2008 8:55 PM

It started going wrong with the retirements of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, and the demise of Jason Gillespie and was compounded, most recently, by Stuart Clark's injury. Simple as that.

The current Australian bowling line-up isn't good enough to bowl top batting line-ups out for uncompetitive scores, much less strike knee-knocking fair into them. Each of the individuals is a handy test player, or one of genuine promise, but, as a unit, nah. They don't cut it.

And, against the good sides, there's bugger all Ricky Ponting, or anyone else, can do about that.

Sure, he's defensive and conservative in the field but that is the way of the world in these days of over-coaching and over-analysis. The same is true of Smith, MS Dhoni and, most certainly, Michael Vaughan, whenever their sides are on the back foot.

Ponting's batting in this test has been heroic which is one definition of leadership. If you want to go after his conservative approach in the field, you're training your sights on the wrong target. Better to put a few shots into the tails of the theorists who devise inflexible and, often as not, crushingly negative 'tactics' and 'plans'.

But the Indians and South Africans are singing from pretty much the same song sheet. The big difference, at the moment, is that they have a better group of players, especially among the bowlers.

And, it was always thus. For all the captaincy nous and leadership qualities of Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, their trumps were the players at their command.

One other point that shouldn't be over-looked in this series is that South Africa has played some very good cricket. The efforts of Dale Steyn, Smith, AB De Villers, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and, of course, JP Duminy are the stuff of which great sides are constructed.

Posted by: jim on December 29, 2008 8:59 PM

The Aussies still don't realise that the days are past when their batsmen could intimidate the opposition. Ponting stupidly lost his wicket on 99 trying to attack instead of just taking the single. Others also perished attacking when they should have occupied the crease. Perhaps the penny will drop now? Also, I'm afraid Clarke isn't the next Mark Waugh or even the next Kim Hughes - when the chips are really down, he is not producing the big innings required. Half the current Aussie team are has beens. The selectors have no strategy for the post-Warne era. Contrast this with the young SA team. Symonds, Hayden, Hussey, Haddin and Lee should be axed. Previous Aussie selectors used to be quite ruthless. This lot takes strange decisions and retain has beens. If a veteran isn't contributing with bat or ball, or by advsing the skipper on tactics, what reason is there for keeping him?

Posted by: Gerhard on December 29, 2008 9:09 PM

The selectors and Ponting are to blame. Faced with the best South African squad to tour since the 1960's, what did they do? Put in an all-rounder as a specialist batsman; keep an out-of-form opener in the side when he should have gone a series ago; set a defensive field when an attacking field was needed to build pressure. Ponting is a great bat but the worst captain since Kim Hughes. The top order should hang their heads in shame after throwing away their wickets. Full credit to Sth Africa, what a great show they've put on. I'm glad we're copping a hiding - it's good for cricket and great for cricket lovers. The only folks who aren't happy are the bogans and John Howard. And Michael Clarke should spend more on his discipline and less on his cars.

Posted by: lejuan on December 29, 2008 9:13 PM

Watching the Aussie cricket team at the moment is liking watching an aged prize boxer trying to go one round too many in a long and distinguished career of great victories.

The question is do the Aussie selectors have the power to change things? The fact that Hayden, Symonds and Lee have not already been replaced suggests that the squads senior players call the shots. The team is an out of control steam train ignoring all signals heading towards certain tragedy.

The biggest headache for Australian cricket is how they are going to regain control of their team, so they can bring in a new guard with fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Strip Ponting of the captaincy, sack Hayden, Symonds and Lee.

Posted by: Scott on December 29, 2008 9:20 PM

When do the selectors become liable? Siddle isnt test class yet. I know he had a good spell in this test but overall Doug Bollinger has been Australia's most destructive bowler for the past 2 years and cant get a look in. Hayden came back originally at Jaques' expense and has been a failure. We have so many better options but it's like the selectors are too weak to admit their mistakes. As for Shane Watson, he too had his chance in 5 tests in a row and did nothing. If they bring him back then we are going backwards.

Posted by: Wisden on December 29, 2008 9:35 PM

First place it has gone wrong is Team Selectors. They should be the first ones fired. Secondly we need new innovative leadership during the matches. Get Ricky to deliver or give some one else a chance.Lastly does the team have a tactician and motivator. If not then get one, if there is one then replace him. Putting Stuart Waugh in charge of team selection and tactics would not be the worst move. May be Peter Roebuck would be a good choice also, as he is an outsider.

Posted by: Ashok Chand on December 29, 2008 9:35 PM

Hi there I am demanding the selectors to give either Michael Klinger or Phillip Hughes a turn at the expense of Matthew Hayden who isn't batting well and out of form

this is Michael Klinger stastics
Klinger, M SA 906 90.60 2 4 255

and Phillip Hughes is not far behind

I also think that the selectors should make a change to the line up like include Michael Hussey brother David Hussey at the expense of Andrew Symonds who is out of form or replace Symo with Shane Watson

Replace the bowling lineup with 5 pace bowlers and 1 spinner bring in the likes of Ben Hifenhaus or Doug Bollinger or Ryan Harris and also David Hussey can give u some of his off spinners

The Selectors need to follow my demand in order for improvement of the Third Test to not let South Africe claim top rank if they smash the Aussies 3-0

Posted by: tony on December 29, 2008 9:45 PM

I guess Ponting didn't take his Swisse Ultivites today.

Posted by: Manashan on December 29, 2008 9:50 PM

Ponting should admit that his team has been outplayed and stop making so many excuses.Ponting and Aussie cricket fraternity are remarkably bad and ungracious LOSERS.
wHAT ABOUT CONGRATULATING THE Saffers instead the lame excuses.

Posted by: Georgie Boy on December 29, 2008 9:52 PM

Australia is used to winning test matches in 4 days or less. There was a debate if we should have test matches reduced to 4 days. Aus haven't won matches that go on for the 5th day. It is high time that Oz cricketers improve their fitness and mental stamina to ensure that they can last 5 days..

Posted by: Shankar Sripathi on December 29, 2008 9:55 PM

God one, Dave. Michael Hussey for Haydos and bring David Hussey into the middle order.

We should remember that things would have been very different had the selectors chosen Watto instead of Roy (huge blunder) and Bing didn't have an injured foot. We would have have had a big first innings lead instead of a morale-sapping deficit.

Good comments from the guy who said that the Indian tour sapped the team's confidence and especially this comment:

The big names like Glen McGrath ,Shane Warne, Steve Waugh kept playing too long. So players 5 -8 years younger to these names lost their opportunity to show their talent at International levels . So these players continued in domestic cricket and blocked opportunities for the younger ones.

So Australia is paying the price for dominating world cricket too long. This the same fate like West Indies, who dominated in the 80s.Once their faces players left- it created a vacuum which is continuing.

Posted by: Chickadee on December 29, 2008 10:09 PM

Although am an Indian Ive been watching every test australia plays(except b'desh and w indies)
* ponting needs to step down as captain and concentrate onhis batting
* i don know how good a leader clark is, so hope for the best...
* i don understand y is dere no sledging dat was supposed to b a part of game by the australian team
* no australian is now sayin we play hard and fair.seems like dey hav become too soft.
* y do the australian team now always complain abt pitches, they somehow tend to forget other team had taken thier 20 wickets on the same pitch..
i dont understand who is more confused-
ricky ponting or the selectors
or rest of the world who r witnessing such a downfall
i believe both india and south africa are #2 with australia as #3
now india and SA hav to [prove who is better..by winning consistently..
we r heading towards some interesting times in cricket..
by the way no body said anything abt M S dhoni or G smith's captaincy.
these two r leaders in true sense who lead from the front.........

Posted by: Romee on December 29, 2008 10:16 PM

Karma!
The Aussies' past arrogance, fake appealing and sledging have come back to bite them!

Posted by: Panther on December 29, 2008 10:20 PM

I would hope that people who have a real point to make would follow it up in an appropriate way. Blogs don't get the point across, folks. If you want Ponting removed, write a letter (not an e mail) to

They don't answer e mail and I am sure that nobody of consequence would not read this blog. However, you may actually get a response to a letter - I know it works.

Write.

Posted by: Pete in Leichhardt on December 29, 2008 10:20 PM

A pretty low time in the game for us Aussies but Peter R you should put the ink filled dagger down as your agenda is even more low and getting boring....

Posted by: Haydn on December 29, 2008 10:22 PM

Most comments in this forum are about seeing Pontings head roll. But thats only the symptom. The root cause of the problem is NOT Ponting alone. Its the style of his captaincy that is the problem. A style that was not the same as it was pre-India-SCG last year. After that incident/series he was told to change his attitude and captaincy style and he did so - but here is the result. Yes, he does not fit this role because of the clauses set out by CA and some parts of the media here. He is a captain who has his own style. One cant expect him to have a Steve Waugh style because he is not a steve. He thrives on sledging, verbal outbursts to the media, arrogannce, ruthlessness and revenge. This is the real Ponting. If you take off all these attributes then PontING is a nothING. But the blame for this current state of affairs should be with the adminstration because he was told to pulverise those attributes which made him what he was in the first place. Having said this Ponting also had another problem - he did not have an answer when the Indians were up against him fighting fire with fire. And thats when he realised that he was not the same captain again. Basically he did not have a plan-B of retaliation if the opponent attacks back like what India did. He did not expect the Indians to use the same attributes that he had. Lets not forget that a captain is only as good as his team. He lacked aggression in his thinking and that led him to think conventionally in adversity.
What could have he done better:

1. He should have pushed Huss down the order, becuase he is too good a player to keep missing the big scores.
2. He could have engaged more with Hayden and told him to use his plan -B
3. told pup in India to be with the team than his girl friend in Dubai after a series walloping
4. stuck with watson based on Indian performance rather than his fishing mate
5. to think that he is not bigger than cricket itself and accept that T20 is also a form of cricket

More than Pontings', I think its visible that the supremacy of Australian cricket has come to an end, and a defeat at the hands of the English will be the last nail in the coffin to prove this theory right, and I think that will happen much sooner if the Australian world does not realise that the epicenter of cricketing power has shifted from Lords to a third world. The sooner the fact is digested the better for Australian cricket, because gone are the Bradman days when only 2 countries played each other and bodyline and the ashes were the only news to the cricket world.

Posted by: Les Johnson on December 29, 2008 10:24 PM

It was inevitable that Australia would struggle to maintain its position atop of the mountain. But its response to the loss of Warne, McGrath and Gilchrist represents a failure of leadership. The signs were flashing in the infamous India Test in Sydney. The culture and composition of the team needed to be recalibrated after that disaster, regardless of what India may or may not have been responsible for. But the opportunity was lost and our performance in India and now in the current series demonstrate that Cricket Australia, the selectors, and team leadership have just been clutching at ways of maintaining the status quo of the previous decade. Quite clearly we need to rebuild and bring in young talent and not squander their youth in the State competition - India and South Africa both see the benefits of youth and daring. I feel sorry for Ponting because he is clearly a great batsman and full of true grit, but he is not a master tactician. It is perplexing, as a batsman he is daring and aggressive, yet as a fielding captain he is super-defensive, lacks flexibility, and does not appear to have command over the team in the way that Taylor and Waugh. This is most evident when the Tests are highly competitive, he just doesn't seem to respond, and appears, at least to me, to withdraw into himself. Yesterday's performance in the field by the Australians was beyond just a bad performance. Today's batting was clearly collective psychological distress. Continuation of this approach will result in misery for the Australian cricket public for a number of years. Of course we could not dominate forever, but we do not need to dig a hole ever deeper - otherwise the endless despair of the West Indies era will reappear. The selectors don't seem to have come up with solutions, and Trevor Hohns looks as if he was an important factor now missed. Buchanan, despite Warne's lamentations, must have also had the right influence. In terms of team selection, we must be able to collect 20 wickets, and for this we need variety, and appropriate field settings. We need another quick, and Krezja is the most aggressive of the spinners. It seems that Hayden has come to the close of his great career, and Hughes is no doubt the correct choice. Something isn't right with Symonds, and Watson must be given a chance at a couple of series, he at least brings some wicket taking ability. I am sure that Ponting will retain the captaincy, but I have severe doubts that he has the capacity to lead the rebuilding phase, but let us see. It seems that we should stop the siege mentality and play with an attitude that reflects 'love for the game'. The results will surely follow.

Posted by: Mr G on December 29, 2008 10:29 PM

I can't understand the vitriol directed at Ricky Ponting. The guy is arguably Australia's greatest batsman since Bradman and many of you will regret it the day he chooses to retire because you will find other things to whinge about when we don't have a quality batsman of his ilk playing for us. I also find it amusing that Peter Roebuck has started all this; the biggest bagger of Australian cricket this nation has seen. It can trace the demise of this team back to Sydney in Jan, when we pulled off a great victory against India and stuoidly got slammed by idiots like Roebuck for over-celebrating our victory! Now 12 months later many of of you want to persecute Ponting because he is now ging to lose against SA. Why don't some of you guys be fair for once. How mant teams would have had a good series if two of their best bowlers were injured? Stuart Clark's loss was crucial, as was Binger's illness. You don't need to be a doctor to realise that it takes months before you recover from an illness like he had in India. We have an inexperienced attack, but some of these guys like Siddle, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Krezja will be champions in two years time. We just need to give them some time. The selectors need to bear the brunt of your ire for they have made some extraordinary decisions, especially this insistence that Symonds should play over Watson. I think Ricky needs to hand over to Simon Katich as captain and stay on as a batsman. He does not need this crap from people anymore.

My team for Sydney is: Hughes, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Watson, Haddin, Johnson, Krezja, Siddle, Hilfemhaus. Add D Hussey, Klinger, Bollinger, and Margoffin for SA. Replace Bollinger and Margoffin with Lee and S Clark for the Ashes. With this team, we will win both series.

Posted by: Alex G on December 29, 2008 10:40 PM

Pathetic captaincy of Ricky Ponting is the main reason why Aussies find themselves in this situation. Aussies have been winning Test Series in Australia mainly because of the many contentious decisions going in their favor all the time while playing in Australia. Unfortunately in this series, they had to, so far, cope with 3 decisions going against them. At last in the final test of calender year 2008, Aussies are getting a karmic result for what they did at the SCG in Jan 08 in the Test match against India. This head-strong and arrogant Aussie team deserves to lose the test series 3-0. The entire world cannot wait to see them thrased in South Africa, England and Sri Lanka in 2009. Well done Proteas

Posted by: Sundaram on December 29, 2008 10:58 PM

Day 4 simply confirmed the problems previously demonstrated.
Ponting's a damn good bat and a brilliant fielder. Strip him of the captaincy and let him concentrate on his strengths.
Put someone younger, smarter, and inspirational, in charge. Clarke seems promising but I fear he is tainted by membership of the "club" of smug, arrogant mates that looks after fools like Symonds while leaving out fit, in-form youngsters.
Being third best in the world is Not a tragedy. The game is strenghtened by the ups and downs that attend the rise and retirement of one-offs like Warne, McGrath and Gillie.
It hurts more now because Cricket Australia presided over a culture in which the team grew arrogant, intolerant and complacent. Every cricketing nation (barring Australia of course) is rejoicing with the South Africans at the embarrassment of the Aussie XI.
Let the Aussies learn some humility, and get used to struggling against the odds. They'll return stronger.

Posted by: teekay on December 29, 2008 10:59 PM

This Australia team has been way too arrogant. This bunch is led by the most arrogant captain ever, Ponting.
He never accepts defeat with grace. Always has lame, 3rd grade excuses for all the defeats. For example - "Flat pitch at Perth"!. What the heck!!

It's time he realizes and accepts his team is no where close to Number 1.

It's time he and a stupid bunch of selectors get their heads down and start building a team which can challenge India and South Africa in the future.

Wake up Punter! Else, your days are countable few!

Posted by: Abinash on December 29, 2008 10:59 PM

3rd at G was the darkest day in the history of Australian Cricket. The gloom & doom & hopelessness that one could see on the face of punter said it all.Any team would look lesser after the retirement of generational players like Warne, Gilly & McGrath and greats like Langer & Damien Martin.Ponting maintained his very high success ratio after inheriting a great team from Steve Waugh.All his leadership deficiencies were hidden because of these great bunch of players.But once the greats departed, Punter's leadership qualities came under the pump and started showing the cracks. First in Jan 2008 against India at home, we were lucky to scrap through in some very controversial circumstances.We got hammered in India 0-2.
Ponting is a great batsman but same cant be said about his leadership skills.
selectors will have to show boldness and leadership to take some hard decisions.Hayden should make way for Phil Hughes and Ben Hilfanhous for Brett Lee in Sydney and a serious frentic search for a couple of spinners should be a major priority for national selectors.

We have to accept the fact that we can not be as dominant as we were

Posted by: Vijay Bee on December 29, 2008 11:10 PM

It's an interesting proposition, the captaincy. I'm not a great defender of Ponting's leadership but neither do I think he's the complete tactical illiterate some say. His sportsmanship oscillates; unlike some I think he makes a great concession speech, but he can do a decent dummy spit, too, and the blame laying and pitch forking in Perth were not good looks.

And then you have efforts like today, where he singlehandedly kept Australia in the match. All of his mates that he has fought so hard for threw their digs away. Johnson made batting look so easy.

What must he feel? Chuck it in now, and play on as a specialist batsman? Ian Chappell took that path for a year and arguably retired a couple of seasons too soon. Hughes' departure is a precedent, but not really.

It's more of a Lawry situation, his captaincy is OK and his batting form great but there's just this sense that it's time for a really big change.

I said the other day that I thought it would be harsh to strip him of the captaincy, at least now. But yesterday's ennui makes me waver. That's twice in two tests that BIG questions have been asked - add the Hussey incident in India and it's 3 tests in the last 5.

As I said above, I'm not sure that all of the criticism is warranted. Captaincy is often over-rated – who’s to say any county muppet wouldn’t have benefited from Botham’s freak run in 81? Yet Brearley is feted as some genius. 3-0 loss out here previously says otherwise.

I mean, in my time Ian Chappell stands out as a good captain, more so for his elan and esprit de corps from 71 to 74, when he led often weakish attacks to victories. (I think I could have won the Ashes with G Chappell, Lillee, Thommo in the team.) Yes, it’s one of the least discussed aspects of Chappelli’s run, he won in the Windies with an attack of essentially Walker, Hammond, O’Keeffe and Jenner. He beat New Zealand with combinations of Walker, Gilmour, Dell, Dymock, Hurst, O’Keeffe and Mallett. Pivotal was his use of part-timers such as Walters and G Chappell, with he and Stacky bowling leggies.

He also managed transition – before the Ashes in 74-5 he welcomed Eastwood, Dell, Francis, Colley, Massie, Edwards, Benaud, Thomson, Walker, Watkins, Hammond, Davis, Gilmour, Dymock, Hurst, Woodcock. That’s 16 debutants in 20 tests (with Watson and Inverarity also coming back into the team at one stage.)

Greg Chappell, Yallop, Hughes and Border were much of a muchness, all looked good when the attack was good and the opposition crap. Hughes especially tried to compensate for a lack of gravitas by being over-interventionist; it looked great when it worked, but must have affected the team barometer - very up and down. If he had had Simmo it might have been different; in hindsight, he and Simmo would have balanced each other whereas Simmo and AB just reinforced each other's pessimism.

Taylor had that lucky mix of timing, luck and tactics. NSW schooled guys like him and Henry Lawson well in the art of pragmatic attack. Waugh added ruthlessness, and inherited McGrath and Warne at their peak. And Gilchrist. But he did that most impossible thing, took a great team and made them even better.

So Ponting's leadership of an average attack and out of form batting lineup is probably about G Chappell 1976-7, when Lillee carried the team, we only drew with Pakistan and the skipper was in deep trouble for not chasing a win in Adelaide. That, too, was a transitional team, Thommo was injured and the hole left by Chappelli and Redpath was pretty deep.

But G Chappell managed to keep it together for the away Ashes, his batting being other worldly. But, and hence the relevance, he, too, was accused of favouring the in-club viz Richie Robinson’s selection. Of course the WSC backdrop was obscured, it was the ultimate in-club but you had to be in to know.

So the big test for Ponting is not winning, it is managing transition. Results are secondary and the selectors need to have scope for pragmatic experimentation – they might want to give all of Hughes, Klinger, Rogers and Jaques a go; rest M Hussey and see how his brother goes; trial Watson in a few roles; experiment with a wristie; possibly play Haddin as a bat and find a keeper who can keep; see if Bollinger and Hilfenhaus are as good as the hype. That’s just the obvious options. There are many wildcards. (North, Henriques, Hazelwood, Nannes etc).

That’s what makes the media rumblings about selection for this test so disturbing, He stands accused of resisting Watson on behalf of an unfit Symonds. Of resisting Hilfenhaus on behalf of an injured and declining Lee. Of propping up Hayden on spurious ground.

It’s clear he needs to see old, strong, familiar faces to feel at ease. Nothing wrong with that – Chappelli inherited Stacky and Redpath and Dougie.

But Ponting debuted 13 years ago, He should get it by now.

And Katich and Hussey have over a decade of experience, and Haddin has been around for ages. Happy to have Hayden as the bus driver, Symonds as permanent 12th man/substitute fielder. They can contribute to his thinktank.

Maybe Nielsen is not up to it? He doesn’t have the experience and the credibility to offer strategic leadership to Ponting?

Either way, it’s clearly having an effect on Katich, Clarke and Hussey, who should be helping him with this transition.

If these allegations of clubbishness are true, if I was Hilditch I’d be sitting him down tomorrow night and giving an ultimatum. Stay, lead, work with who we pick, including the kids. Show them the way, bat, back yourself, ignore results. Play positive cricket. We will back you. If you can’t accept that, goodbye, and thanks.

Yours, Bill Murray (lost in transition)

Posted by: peter warrington on December 29, 2008 11:31 PM

Hayden, Lee and Symonds have to go to make room for new blood. Ponting should be under scrutiny as well. Time for changes. But hey - South Africa have played well - lets not forget that.

Posted by: David on December 29, 2008 11:32 PM

Hayden doesnt deserve to be there. His fairytale send off has become a nightmare for him and the selectors. Symonds is a great player... but he isnt fit. Have you not got anyone else?

A comment earlier hit it on the head... the arrogance of the Aussie selectors is their ultimate downfall...thinking that they could roll out whoever in whatever form/fitness and still win.

As for Ponting.... well its easy to look good when your side is on top .... the true test of a captain is when the side is behind the eight ball. He aint deserving of a pass mark yet.

* Australia's decline was due any time now and is well and truly underway. These things happen. Organising an orderly stablising mission is paramount otherwise seelctions will become the revolving door of the mid-late 80s.

* The Australians have been psychologically rocked by the adverse reaction - as much from their own fans as others - to last year's acrimonious SCG Test against India. They simply have not recovered their mojo because they are far too thin-skinned and self-righteous.

* Ponting lacks the basic intelligence to be a Test captain - witness his field settings and bowling changes on day 3 at MCG, and his behaviour during Ashes '05. He is our best batsman by a long shot but it would be a major embarrassment for the selectors and CA to relieve him from the post.

* The time has come for a return to a coach in the mould of Bob Simpson or Steve Rixon - we need a back to basics approach. Things like footwork for batsmen, line and length for bowlers, and catching practice. Things currently lacking. Things an ordinary wicketkeeper from South Australia appears incapable of addressing.

* The Australian batsmen have been able to bully substandard bowlers on dry pitches for so long that when they are under pressure they repeat the mantra "Just go out and back yourself" then get out to careless shots. They refer to this as playing attacking cricket. I call it arrogance - like a boastful gambler throwing his money away.

* Congrats to India for pushing our buttons and not flinching. But you guys are no angels either.

* Congrats to South Africa for some wonderful fightbacks with great spirit. Australia could easily have been 2-0 up by now.

* Ignore NZ and WI - in our last 8 Tests against South Africa and India we have won none.

* Symonds has been a basket case since last summer and his fishing trip - while still capable of brilliance his subsequent selection has been destabilising.

* The Channel 9 guys are incapable of saying what needs to be said about Hayden, Symonds etc.

My 15-man squad for South Africa and England (assuming all fully fit):

Australia should't make the same mistake England makes when they choose to play names instead of form. How on earth will Ponting and the selectors knowing that Australia was short in bowlers decide to play a half fit Symonds over a bubbling, fit and inform Watson.
I think this is the price they have to pay for showing favouritism instead professionalism.

Posted by: Seba on December 30, 2008 12:15 AM

Simply Put - The era of Australian dominance is over! The symptoms were there since the last couple of series against India. SA has put a final nail.

Posted by: Ishvinder Singh on December 30, 2008 12:20 AM

Where did it all go wrong ? Why not ask where did it all go right for South Africa ? Give the opposition some credit for a change.
I agree with the comments of Moluke. I cannot understand how Aus got away with its arrogance, sledging and downright bad sportsmanship for so many years. If one reviews some of the disgusting appealling and intimidation of umpires which went on, some of the bowlers should be stripped of their records. Not to mention the assistance of some blatantly biased decisions of a now disgraced home umpire.
What went wrong ? I really don't care. What is happening now has got to be good for cricket.

Posted by: Steven Robertson on December 30, 2008 12:20 AM

It's simple.....select Peter Roebuck as captain. He's got all the answers even from the safety of a press box.

Posted by: dave on December 30, 2008 12:28 AM

Can some one tell me why we have Symonds and not Shane watson in the team.

Posted by: Dave the Cricket on December 30, 2008 12:32 AM

I am just wondering as to when Punter and party will start blaming umpires, Harbhajan Singh, ICC etc for the current test performance!! Wake up CA; this team is rubbish; it aint even number 3; Srilanka and pakistan will beat them any day; England has more than required to win Ashes and NZ and WI are Par at the moment. Sack Punter; get a better leader; clark too lacks the qualities of a good leader. Time to build is now; no better time to rebuild than when you are faced with crisis. Start with CA and selectectors, rest will follow.

Posted by: Tanu on December 30, 2008 12:45 AM

The writing has been on the wall for more than a year, beginning with the series against India in Australia, with Australia distinctly lucky with a raft of contentious and crucial decisions in the Sydney test. That series win papered over some alarming trends.To be quite honest, I cannot recall a poorer tactician than Ponting in the past 25 years of test cricket. The old boys club attitude of Ponting and his henchmen are not helping our cause at all. Take a good look at the teams aroud the world.India,Sri lanka, West Indies, Pakistan and the kiwis have quite a few in their early twenties. We used to mock the Poms and their Dad's army. We are now guilty of harbouring dinosaurs past their sell by date. Revamp the side and give youth their head. Someone should also tell Ricky to spare us his ridiculous statements before every test series. Prior to losing the test matches at Perth to India and S.Africa, he spoke about how we would be looking to reopen old scars etc. It would be a lot better if he concentrated on playing decent cricket.

Posted by: Paul Varghese on December 30, 2008 1:09 AM

The Australian Cricket team under Ricky Ponting is every bit as good as any previous Australian team, and better than most. It's just that for now, the South African and Indian teams are much better.

Posted by: SoreThroat on December 30, 2008 1:18 AM

So, if one is a selector... is his job then to select?
And if so, if he then selects the wrong XI....
Is it our turn to select a new selector?
What's more, if he selects an injured player in the highest test of cricketing fitness - is he not irresponisble?
If he is the head of selectors, then let his head roll.
Maybe into a hill, or at least a ditch.

Posted by: tim on December 30, 2008 1:24 AM

When you have a great team and you keep on winning it is enevitible that
1. No new guys get in the side so the player pool with experience is very small
2. So when those pensioner stars start to retire there is no repacements available
Look at the english rugby side after the previos world cup in Aus.
The SAD THING FOR YOU AUSSIES IS THAT ENGLAND IS AFTER 5 YEARS STILL NOT OUT OF IT AND YOUR DECLINE HAVE JUST STARTED

Posted by: LARDUS VAN ZYL on December 30, 2008 1:32 AM

The Ozzies 'castle in the air' of self-proclaimed global cricket dominance is over! The rather pathetic sledging attempts directed at the 'Duminator' by has-been, deluded, masticator hyperactive, dour, overpaid and underperforming Ozzie pensioners was as effete and laughable as it was pathetic. There is a tide in the affairs of world cricket that HAS turned. Just get over it!

Posted by: Jonathan Ball on December 30, 2008 1:47 AM

Australia are trying to move ahead by looking in the rear-view mirror. They are depending on yesterday's heroes to restore their fast diminishing glory, instead of looking to induct fresh talent. What else explains the inclusion of an out of form Matt Hayden, a struggling Brett Lee and an injured Symonds, while someone like Shane Watson who performed superbly in India is sitting out ?
Also, Australia will soon need a leader to captain this team which will be going through a transition sooner rather than later, with the old guard on their way out and fresh faces coming in. Ponting, though he is a great batsman, is not even remotely close to being a leader of men. He just got lucky by inheriting a team of greats like Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath. Now, the absence of these outstanding performers is exposing the lack of his captaincy skills. Australia need to get rid of the deadwood and appoint a new captain if they are to keep up with India and South Africa over the next few years.

Posted by: Rajesh S.K. on December 30, 2008 2:02 AM

I think its been way too long for Aussie cricket to rely on old timers...I understand the selectors shielding young players by throwing them into the test arena but its high time they change tactics...teams like SA and India have been doing well because they invested in youth who play hard and have no history or do not know anything about their past teams losing often to Australia...now because of not injecting young blood the Australian side is a side relying too much on old timers...its time to give a chance to the young blokes who make their own history rather than rely on past laurels

Posted by: atlantan on December 30, 2008 2:43 AM

Bloody Queenslanders always hang around like a bad smell. Adios Haydos, at least you will have time to write another cook book. Cant wait. Your big sweaty bald head on the last cover really whets the appetite.

Posted by: Huey on December 30, 2008 3:11 AM

No doubt that Australians were champions, but they should admit the fact that they have spoken about others too much instead of concentrating on their own game and provked other teams to come hard at them. And for sure, they are the bad losers in the world cricket. They dont stop talking about others and dont see their own pocket.

Posted by: Anoop on December 30, 2008 3:33 AM

Most of South Africa is thoroughly enjoying the demise of a great side.Just accept that you cant be on top forever--its now somebody elses opportunity.Your players are good,ours are just better.

Posted by: Pat Kelly on December 30, 2008 3:57 AM

Arrogance.. Thats where..

Posted by: Zaka Norwin on December 30, 2008 4:11 AM

As a saffa I've been amazed (and delighted) at how well my team has been doing. However I don't think they are really that far ahead of other SA teams. All the points raised above are probably valid, but I think they serve to illustrate what a delicate balance a good cricket team is, and how each flaw (eg lack of strike penetration) causes a huge list of other "symptoms" to emerge. I reckon Aus should avoid the temptation to either tinker with the team, or to have a complete clean sweep. A plan should be put together with the focus on having an almost entirely new team within 3-odd years.

Posted by: Wal on December 30, 2008 5:07 AM

2 questions/ideas:

1. Who selects the selectors, and on what grounds is their performance measured? Is it a transparent process?

2. Why not choose the best team and then get them to choose their captain?

Posted by: Wal on December 30, 2008 5:18 AM

A sad day for Australian Cricket but hopefully some gtood will come from this substandard performance.
Maybe for once Australia will rid itself of its insular arrogance and show some respect for opposing teams and at last recognise that there are many Australians who love their cricket but detested the sledging, the arrogance and the
selfishness of Ponting and Co.

Posted by: Thaddeus on December 30, 2008 5:23 AM

What has long been a hidden fact now has come out in the open! The fact is Ricky has never been a great captain. It's just that he was lucky to have inherited a great team from Steve Waugh, and had great set of players, world class players to be precise. The players won the matches for him. Now that the hollow foundation is thoroughly exposed, Ricky Ponting's captaincy is extremely tested. He can't inspire players despite his batting prowess; he is running out of ideas and steam; and he does not seem to have any providence coming his way in the near future. A great captain extracts the best out of even an average team. And, Ponting will never be able to do it. His twilight is nigh.

Posted by: Kavin on December 30, 2008 6:09 AM

Ponting is an outstanding batsman, but a woeful tactician, mainly due to an utter inability to feel the pulse of the game and out-think an opposition.

His utter inability to dismiss the tail end on day 3 demonstrated this - now that he has lost Warne/McGrath/Langer his true qualities as a captain are exposed.

The best captain in the team at the moment is Simon Katich. He has established himself in the team with his batting well enough, and the leadership he has demonstrated with NSW ought to stand him in good stead.

Posted by: Mark Imisides on December 30, 2008 6:11 AM

Perhaps its the natural result of decades of world domination, but it occurs to me (and others) that the unified force that Australia shows to any opposition (supporters, ordinary citizens, press, and esp Channel 9 commentators) is great for getting teams to buckle and to support your team. However it leaves precious little space for arms-length reflection and constructive criticism until things start going a bit pear-shaped. I hate to get into individuals, but Ian Chappel, Healey, and Lawry are more than Aussie praise-singers, they are completely one-eyed! Great for the domestic audience when things are going well, perhaps, but it doen't lead to much reflection. An Aussie cultural thing, esp when cricketing success is soooo important as a symbol of national pride?

Posted by: Wal on December 30, 2008 6:21 AM

Where it has gone wrong ?

The answer is the "head". By head, I mean the Adminstrators.

The aussies have gone "head strong" and became arrogant.

They sledged the opponents, bowled slow over rates, argued with Umpires,bad mouthed every opponent player, refused to walk despite being clearly cought, cheated about grassed catches, Captain became the fourth umpire, an Opener called his tormentor to a Boxing fight, tired to fix a tormentor by raising racial charges.

Still no Aussie cricketer was booked by a Match Referee, thanks to two australians at the head of the ICC. This had made the Aussies head strong and made them thing that they could get scot free with any Misdemeanour.

For this only the Cricket Australia's administrators are to blame. They had given a false hope to the gangsters who go by the name of Aussie Cricket team that they could get away with anything unscathed.

The Aussies were not great side, only that their opponents were weak. Now all the opponents have become equals, if not stronger, both on the field (play wise) and off the field (talk wise).

At the end of the day, only the performance on the field mattered and the Aussies have been left with talking, talking, talking ... nonsense and throwing excuses when defeated and not playing good cricket.

The buck stops squarely on the Administrators. They had failed to stop the players becoming ruffians that they are. They have to rein in the cricketers and teach them as to how to use the bat and ball than to use their mouths.

Posted by: Harish on December 30, 2008 6:34 AM

Ricky Ponting is the problem. He lost the very first series as captain. He can not captain. The successes he had later came by the hardwork of McGrath, Warne and Lee, not by his own batting or captaincy. It churned my stomach to see Lee begging him for bowling in India.
Brett Lee!! for heaven's sake. How many teams boast a Lee? Go away Ponting.

Posted by: go_home_ricky on December 30, 2008 6:58 AM

Welcome back to the 80`s.Our next crop of cricket superstars are there they just need a go.this series really has being one of brillant indivdual perfomances.Both teams are really mediocre.The SA are really no better than any other prevous SA teams ,where just not as good as anymore.

Posted by: Mick Dalfinney on December 30, 2008 7:16 AM

Full credit to South Africa - though they were not at their best first couple of days, they came back strongly and played better cricket. Australia were unfortunate to be at the receiving end of a few decisions on the field, but no excuses for shabby cricket on days 3 and 4.

Every team has to go through the phase when you start loosing your best players and the team has to be re-built. Australia is going through that phase right now. The only way you can get out of that tough period is to have a good balance of older and younger players for a period of time until the youngsters have enough exposure and confidence to take on the world. You may lose a few matches or series - there is nothing wrong in that and nothing to be ashamed of! Their is no point in blaming the captain or team or the selectors. Instead this is the time to be patient and sound reasoning should prevail.

The selectors on their part should be bold enough to take decisions good for Australian cricket and confident enough to give youngsters a chance. Instead of questioning the tactics of a captain who is struggling to put together a decent team or questioning whether a senior player has the right to be in the team, what Australian cricket needs right now is the support and confidence of all its cricket lovers.

Face the reality - have the courage to accept the truth and patience to work through adversity...

Posted by: Arun on December 30, 2008 7:26 AM

I definately think Ricky Ponting should go. He is not a true leader. Thinking of your personal goal when the team goal is in dire straits is very selfish. In his second innings he only wanted to get a second of the match to set history. What was required of him was to occupy the crease and bat for long hours. The century would eventually come. I guess he nows knows what the shoes feel like on the the other feet, where the teams he was playing against had average players to his great players and their captain had to have their hands full to get the most out of their players. I have always said that Tendulkar and Ponting always have a team around them why they could perform like but Lara didn't have a team around him. Lara tried to always bat as long as possible not just getting a quick fire hundred. Ponting must realized that you have to make the most of what you got. Don't point fingers at your players but sit with them and see what is affecting them then you work out a plan to help them correct that problem and perform better. I have stated for quite awhile that australia is a replica of the once dominating West Indian side and now we have seen the that. Ponting need to motivate his player and he isn't doing much in that departmenmt by critizing them publicly. His cricketing brain is reside in his bat. He just knows how to bat not lead or inspire. Different situations will arise but is how you deal with will determine who you are. Not all bat battles are won with weapons sometimes the battle is lost or won in the mind. He need to find a way to get into his players brain and let them know what is expected of them. His bowlers rotating and feild setting leaves alot of question marks but I guess he is still living of the past of old when his country was once considered untouchable and umpires will give in to their appeals and they would win at all cost even if catching the ball on the bounce.

Posted by: Ozzie on December 30, 2008 7:27 AM

In cricket, no match is over till the last ball is bowled or the last run is scored. So, Punter can still be hopefull of taking the series to SCG. But proteas are likely to ensure that it only remains a hope. With due respects to the exploits of M.Johnson, P.Siddle etc they are all only statistically successful in terms of taking wickets and not the match winners in the ranks of McGrath or Warnie. Punter also made a mistake of backing out of form Hayden for too long and taking a risk of accommodating injured players for the crucial tie.

Posted by: Dinu on December 30, 2008 7:36 AM

We need Ponting as a batsman but he should be sacked as captain. Now that he doesn't have genius players to save his butt he looks so very ordinary in his decision making. I agree it is time for Matty to retire but he deserves the respect of being allowed to play Sydney and go out on his terms - he has been one of the greatest EVER and I can't imagine watching an Australian team without him towering over and terrorising the bowlers. He is one of my 2 favourite players. Roy is the other, and sadly I feel his time way well have come also. He is 33 and this knee looks like an ongoing problem. His fielding is the best I have ever seen in 35 years of watching cricket and he is the most entertaining batsman and personality in all those years BUT - I would rather see him go fishing now instead of battling on and being degraded (that has happened more than enough already with the disgusting journalists in this country) Brett Lee - I cried yesterday when he bowled the opener off a no ball. It summed up his year. He is the nicest person, always smiling, polite, sweet. He has lost his wife and son this year and now it seems he will lose his spot in the team even after his foot heals. So very sorry Binga :( I think Haddin is a bad wicketkeeper. Yes he can be a good batsman (but unreliable) but his keeping sucks. What about the Tassie keeper?
Overall, this would be the team I would try in Sydney as it will be a dead rubber - Matty, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey (simply because all the other middle order bats around the country are in slumps, seemingly), Shane Watson (NOT a fan but he deserves a go), Tassie keeper? or Queensland maybe?, Mitchell Johnson (what a great batsman he is becoming, and superb fielder), Jason Krejza, Peter Siddle & Ben Hilfenhaus. Then, for the tour of SA Phil Hughes, the Wild Thing (one day games only), Michael Klinger, Bollinger.

Posted by: debra on December 30, 2008 7:42 AM

All good sides fade.It's no use moaning.A change at the top is good for the game.The sooner Haden goes the better for cricket.A great player who sadly will be remembered as a whinging sledger.I'd say all other countries,would love to have Ricky Ponting playing for them.The guy can bat!!

Posted by: Robbie on December 30, 2008 7:53 AM

it is obvious change. I suggest we have a series of matches on different grounds of an Australian XI made up of promising youngsters to play the current Aussie test squad to help pick the squad for the ashes tour, like they did in the old days.I wonder who would win.

Posted by: Bill on December 30, 2008 8:19 AM

If you have a lead of 250 and the opposition 6 wickets down, obviously the talent is there. If the opposition gets back into the game, the captaincy is not. Ponting's style of captaincy seems more suited to a team that destroys all before them. It is not suited to a team in transition and needs faith to be shown in youngsters, and also which can't have the luxury of players being chosen for commercial reasons (Symmonds)or to get the over-rate up (sub-standard spinner).

It would be good to get Warne out of retirement, give him the captaincy and show Pointing how it should have been done.

Posted by: stompie on December 30, 2008 8:36 AM

The writing was on the wall when Australia played NZ last month. If a side like NZ could bowl Australia out for under 300 runs in both innings (Brisbane), then the signs were truly showing. If NZ had a decent batting line up, Australia would have lost that test too. Looks like there are some players in this side that are only there on past reputation other than current form.

Posted by: darren on December 30, 2008 8:37 AM

Shurely we must have more than 16 cricketers in Australia to choose a Test team from. Or are the current shield players that useless.

Posted by: Norm on December 30, 2008 9:23 AM

Credit where credit is due...well played Proteas.
The way the Australian cricket team played on Sun & Mon was the worst cricket I have seen from the team in over 50 years. To not be able to clean up the Proteas tail on Sunday was awful. Surely the slow bowlers should have been instructed to tempt the tail enders...bowling "lolly pops"...throwing it up ( I was tempted too !) The bowlers were only interested in protecting their figures...not Lee...who was "given" the new ball whilst injured only to send a few down leg side. Horrible.
Selectors errors. Picking out of form players an injured & out of form Symonds. Too many batsmen gave their wickets away slashing outside off stump incl both openers. Cracker innings Punter...no help from your senior players.

Posted by: Peter on December 30, 2008 10:01 AM

Where the Aussie go from here? Well... now they can fully concentrate on 'sledging' without worrying about Cricket anymore... 'Art of Sledging' is close to their heart! Excel in that..

Trio of Punter, Hayods, and Symmo can lead the initiative

Posted by: Ash on December 30, 2008 10:07 AM

Punter is showing all the hallmarks of an inept skipper who has no confidence in his bowlers, sack him and accept the fact that Oz would be dethroned for quite sometime. The whole world is celebrating this demise. Kudos to India and SA!!!

Posted by: Khadeland on December 30, 2008 10:14 AM

Its hard to understand the call for Ricky Ponting to be sacked.

His batting has showed strong leadership qualities during this Test, even if his field placings lacked imaginaion, and he will know it was his fault. But he can only deal with the team he was given.

There are no other possible candidates for the job at this point of time, and Steve Waugh would not have done any better, as the 2003 / 04 series proved.

Waugh struggled against the Indians when an injured and banned Warne and McGrath were out for the summer.

Ponting did inherit a well oiled machine from Waugh, who had inherited it from Mark Taylor, a team that picked itself mostly.

Clarke is most definitely not ready to lead the team yet.

The difference is, Ponting now has a team in transition and the selectors are stumped for what to do ... that means they have no ideas, that means the team needs new selectors ... selectors who will use their imagination and stop the rot of players like Shaun Tait saying, "I can't handle Test cricket, I'll play One Day Internationals instead."

Also selectors stopping the rot of players well passed their peak, who are not really interested, just hanging around because it suits them. Hayden should have been gone two summers ago ... the world cup would have been a good time to go, while he was on top.

If the selectors haven't woken up after this Test, well, it most certainly is back to the 1983 - 1986 period.

But really, Australia should not take as long to recover as it did in the 80's ... they have talented bowlers and batsmen there, Hilfenhaus, Bollinger, Hughes, Henriques ... there are a couple of teenage McGrath like bowlers coming through the NSW ranks as well.

It's possible Stephen Smith, the young leggie allrounder will make his debut next summer ... he might have only played a handful of first class matches but Warne didn't play a lot before he debuted either ... and there is big wraps on Smith, from Warne himself.

I don't understand the fixation with Klinger, players nearing their thirties or on thirty who have played the game for a while averaging thirty ... its time for some youngsters. Hughes, Henriques, Marsh ... those sorts of players.

David Hussey in for his brother?

What is amusing is the Australian media and press reaction to Australia losing.

Three years ago international cricket was in strife because their were no teams that could compete with Australia, and now because Warne and McGrath have retired, with Gilly and Langer, Australian cricket is in turmoil and on the brink of a massive capitulation ... like seriously!

There may be a couple of summers of pain, but really ...

When Australia is winning and dominating its bad for world cricket, when they are losing its bad for Australian cricket ... and okay, maybe good for world cricket ... come on, make up your minds ... which one is it!

I'll give my kudos to the English though, at least they won the Ashes and defeated the Aussies when they were at their peak ... even if they matches they won, were only just won ... they still won and good on them.

The South Africans and Indians have had to wait for a weakened Australian outfit before they could beat them ... when Warne and McGrath were in the side, they couldn't get with in a kahoota of the Aussies.(Apart from 2001 Indian Tour which suffered from Steve Waugh captaincy errors and brilliant Indian batting.)

It just proves cricket is a cyclical game. However, the game is in dire straits in Pakistan, politics threaten it in India, corruption has crushed the game in the West Indies and stopped Kenya from becoming a Test nation, New Zealand cricket looks terribly underdeveloped, and Zimbabwe, don't get started on a country I grieve for.

There is no other sport with so much drama!

Posted by: WP Cooper on December 30, 2008 10:18 AM

Emotion to recent events appears to be at the forefront of most people's minds. To determine the issues faced and then the solutions to go forward, we can only deal with facts.

Fact #1:
The Australian's aggressive attitude to batting lacks discipline, commitment, respect for the opposition's ability and is down right reckless.

The results we have seen over the past 6-12 months (India & SA) are not new in the making and go back to the Ashes 2005. Caste our minds back to the 1st session of the 1st Test of Ashes 2005 - reckless in the extreme. There were similar occurences in India recently. The mode of dismissal yesterday of Hayden, Katich, Ponting, Clarke and Haddin were shameful at best. All would have been reamed by coaches at club level. Flair and dash have been placed higher in importance than technique and thought to the position of the game. When it comes off they look great, but against quality opposition failure will more often than not be the result.

I'm certain if an overview of dismissals were put together over the past 4 years, most would be down to ill-discipline, poor shot selection and poor execution of technique.

Fact #2:
Fast bowlers are doing nothing with the ball except bang it in. Where has the skill of moving the ball trough the air and/or off the seam gone? Has this been sacrificed for pace, intimidating batsmen? This also does not work against quality opposition.

Spin bowlers who don't turn the ball get wickets in 5th grade. Surely, it is better to work with a spinner such as Jason Krecja who actually does something than take a defensive off-spinner that struggles at all levels of 1st class cricket. Why isn't Simon Katich bowling - what team wouldn't give to have a left arm wrist spinner. Is he working on that aspect of his game?

Witness, England in 2005, India 2008 and SA currently, quicks are doing something through the air and showing up our batting technique flaws comprehensively.

In the past, Australia have managed to put significant scores on the board in the first innings, enough to give bowlers to play with and for the captain to be creative, not that Ponting has shown any desire fo this. Building an innings against good bowling seems to be a thing of the past. A game is not won in the first session, nor on the first day against better sides.

Coaching both in technique and approach to the game appear to be a major problem. We lack the basics in batting and bowling technique. Just because a player has reached the pinnacle doesn't mean that he will always be perfect - unless of course arrogance steps in.

We have batsman who don't move their feet and more often than not play across the line. Ponting is a classic example as he is always an LBW contender. Yesterday's dismissal was appalling technique as he squared up to a straight delivery. Clarke similarly had poorly positioned feet to execute a straight forward shot and Symonds played french cricket.

Neilson, State and State aged based coaches need to start doing the job that they have been employed to do or be moved on. What do they do in the nets?...or do they just watch videos?

All the Australian players are superb cricketers, but they still need to coached, simple flaws fixed and helped to continually improve their game.

Is it any better at State level? It is difficult to say as we are only shown 50 over and 20/20 cricket on TV. Watching the NSW "baby blues" provides little confidence that any exceptional batsmen will come from this crop in the near future. They too are more intent on flair and dash than build and position. Are the runs scored again a failure of bowlers to do something with the ball?

Little can be said about the selectors, apart from the view that if they had any respect for themselves and Australian cricket they would fall on their swords. A litany of errors is the hallmark of selections recently. Why was Bollinger taken to India - to be a net bowler because India had Zaheer Khan? Why was White hauled over when not first selected and played in front of players selected to tour initially? There was no cricket played! How dare they allow an injured player to take the field for his country in this test! Selections for too long have been easy as players basically chose themselves. Leadership and decision-making are easy in good times, but it is now time to choose people who can make fact-based unemotional decisions. When times are difficult, we need clear thinkers both in selections and in the captaincy.

Posted by: Cricket90blue on December 30, 2008 10:25 AM

As an England supporter, but having grown up in Oz, I have to say what is most shocking is the sheer age of the mainstay of the Australian team. They not only ARE old (well, relatively, they are younger than me!) but they look and move like guys 5 years older than they are. With Warne and McGrath, good batsmen had the pressure taken off and 'became great' (or at least too 'great' to be replaced). What happened to young and dynamic Oz cricket? As for the captaincy, well in 2005 it was simply embarrassing to watch Warne get Ponting out of a hole again and again without the chance of being offered the captaincy. Warne's lack of the captaincy was simply not Australian, it smacked of conservative (old) English cricket admin. Now that we have just been informed that Vaughan is not to be taken to the WI, meaning his career is almost certainly over, it seems the ruthless way of culling underperforming cricketers (yes, even inspirational and clever captains such as Vaughan) is now the preserve of the English

Posted by: David on December 30, 2008 10:27 AM

Australia has to do several things:
1. Lose their arrogance - Australia has had years of being poor winners, now they are proving they are equally poor losers
2. Get a captain who can lead and make intelligent decisions - perhaps Mike Hussey
3. Start enjoying themselves again - The South Africans obviously enjoy playing cricket whether they are winning ot not.

Posted by: Ian Dean on December 30, 2008 10:50 AM

Sack the selectors and send Roebuck back to pommy land where his vitriolic nonsense is better received.

It is the selectors who put non performers and crocks in the team.

Yabba

Posted by: Yabba on December 30, 2008 10:59 AM

The simple truth is we haven't lost a home series for 16 years. We have lived through a golden era. Going forward we are enterign a Silver era. We are still near the top of the tree but Sth Africa and India are close to or better than us now. To be honest it's likely to make Cricket a tad more exciting in that we will have to fight hard to win.

Going forward the selectors need to bite the bullet. Hayden has been a great servant and ideally would of been able to go out on his own terms but he's 37 and isn't reiring so it's time to push him. Hughes, Rogers or Klinger all look like decent choices to replace him.

Lee is injured and at 32 may never come back to be what he was. Time to move forward. Bollinger is a aggresive bowler so I'd pick him over Ben Hilfenhaus for Sydney merely because we need to up our aggression and Ben's swing is probably better suited to the Ashes tour. I'd give Doug the chance to cement a spot here and in Sth Africa with Ben the next cab off the rank.

Symonds is not a genuine test bat. His first class record proves that. He is a guy who made the team because he could bowl ok and is a great fielder. Right now he is batting moderatly, cant bowl any significant overs and is struggling in the field. They need to drop him. Watson is gone with his back so the choice comes down to bringing in a 3rd opener, David Hussey, a 5th bowler or trying to manufacture a allrounder from somewhere. Henriques, Steve Smith and others dont really look ready to make that jump. I'd be tempted to go with David Hussey over Ben Hilfenhaus in a fairly traditional side rather than only going in with 5 bats.

Then going forward the selectors need to monitor whomever they bring in + Siddle, Hauritz and Mike Hussey. Mike Hussey is a great player but his recent form is terrible and if he stays in a slump then unfortunatly we are enterign a period where performance is everything. If he is still playing badly by the end of the Sth Africa tour then he may need to be replaced.

The 'fall from grace' started from the Sydney Test against India this year, when Aussies cheated to win.

Posted by: ram on December 30, 2008 12:19 PM

Make Greg Chappel and include Trevor Chappel in the team.

Greg would ask Trevor to bowl underarm. The opposition could not score runs.

Aussies would always win.

Posted by: Harish on December 30, 2008 1:09 PM

In a way, I am so glad that the SA has finally done Australia Cricket a big favour. By beating the Aussie, they have now finally forced the selectors (who all until now is being paid to do nothing) to WORK. Let's just pray they do the right thing now and remove all passengers to reprieve themselves. After that, the whole lot of selectors, if they have any dignity, would resign in shame.

And oh, well done to the SA, the new world champions. They did this by never threatening umpires so that they are able to make impartial decision unlike what the Indians did to Steve Bucknor. So until the Indians put aside their financial prowess and win like the African, they are at best can only be pretenders.

Posted by: Terry on December 30, 2008 1:20 PM

Always keep Steve Bucknor or Mark Benson or Darrel Hair as Umpires.

Bucknor would ensure that he would declare more Indian bastsman out than the Aussie bowlers get them out.

Mark Benson would refer decisions to Ricky Ponting to give outs.

Hair would ensure that Muralidharan would always be no-balled.

Use cloud seeding techniques in case there is a fear of losing a match. (if it had not been used already. Remember they have used Helicopters to dry a wet ground)

Make Greg Chappel a bowling coach. He would coach its bowlers as to how to bowl under arm.

There is no need for a sledging coach. The team has a bunch in Ponting, Heyden, Symonds, Clarke and Katich. If there is still any need, make Steve Waugh a Sledging coach.

Make Ponting the "Official Fourth Umpire" without referring to him, no decisions is given.

Aussies would never lose a match.

Posted by: Harish on December 30, 2008 1:24 PM

Obviously, Australia have lost key men in McGrath, Warne and Gilchrist, but the team appears to have lost the hard edge of previous sides. No matter the quality of the team, I do not believe that Aussie captains of the past would have let the Perth test slip, or allow South Africa to recover in their first innings in Melbourne. A 76 for faster bowler Steyn! Ridiculous. Ponting as skipper is nowhere near as good as Waugh, Border and Chappel. He really should be replaced, probably by Clarke. He is still a superb batsmen and would be an asset as one.

Posted by: Andrew Jardine on December 30, 2008 1:31 PM

Symonds and Hayden to go obviously. But the big question that needs to be answered is how Symonds got selected for this Test in the first place as he was obviously not fit. Did he lie to the medical staff, thereby putting his interests ahead of the team, are the medical staff incompetent in that they didn't diagnose the seriousness of the injury, did Ponting intervene on his behalf thereby putting friendship ahead of the team, or are the selectors merely hopeless. I hope James Sutherland asks some hard questions because the public would certainly like to know (not that we'll be told anything).

Posted by: Phil (Designated Expert) on December 30, 2008 2:20 PM

Aussie were beaten by a better team who do not have the arrogance of the former.Perhaps Ponting and the boys should become Bully Boys again

Posted by: Georgie Boy on December 30, 2008 2:27 PM

All teams go through cycles - Australia has been on an extremely long-lived upwards or at least not downwards cycle - not far short of 25 years. It had to change. Look at this positively and make the changes and start trying younger players. Losing a few matches in the short term won't really matter as few remember them.

Posted by: davecbr on December 30, 2008 2:58 PM

The hierarchy of failure is as follows:
1. Selectors - Andrew Hilditch should take the maximum blame. It was evident from Sydney Test (Traumatic events) - Australia was on a downward slide. It was the right time to bring in youth in Australian Cricket.
2. There was no place for Andrew Symonds to be in the team. Probably can be let to play Rugby league. Cricket is a game of tacticians and not Thugs.
3. Ricky is the greatest batsmen of the modern times. What can he do if he is given a second grade team.
4. Time to give the captaincy to Michael Clarke, who is street smart. Very evident in the way he led 20/20 side. This will also give Ricky more time to concentratae on his strengths - Batting. More over, Australian team, will mover over from mercenray status and the public will start supporting Australian team.
5. Time for haydos to concentrtae on cokking. No more avaerages of the past but recent ininnings is what counts.
6. Bring in new young blood, let's build Australian team.
7. Right time to change selectors - Use players like mark taylor and Allan border and Steve waugh as selectors.

Posted by: Ashok on December 30, 2008 3:10 PM

Hayden said that he cudnt score on the third world country (indian) pitches!! Are Perth and MCG thrid world pitches ??
its about time pointing & co stops blaming others for their defeat.

As far as the sleding part goes, a little bit of friendly banter is always ok. Aus did the mistake of taking it off the field. May it be monkey gate or calling harbajan "obnoxious weed" on radio and so on..

Aussies are on the decline. At the same time SA and india are at the top of their game.... For SA and india to stay on the top, they will have to play consistently for around a year...

Posted by: Vicks on December 30, 2008 3:18 PM

Australia, PLEASE grow up. Cricket is an international non-event. Less than 7 countries take it seriously. This loss should make you guys reflect on the parochialism of our country's culture. That our national pride can be remotely related to something so internationally insignificant defies belief and proves my point.
The way multiculturalism and globalism go, Cricket won't even be played in big stadia in 30 years time. It is an anachronism, and the sooner we get rid of it, the quicker Australia will grow up and join the rest of the world in the sporting arena outside their 'niche' sports (rugby league, netball, and that joke called AFL).
Stop these silly lamentations and move on. Nobody cares re this, outside your insular little worlds.

Posted by: EET on December 30, 2008 3:24 PM

Team Australia has one fundamental issue in their pyche. Team Australia MUST have their nose in front from start to finish - but once behind - they fall to pieces. Team Australia simply cannot recover from falling behind.

That is the first thing they must fix

Next, great young players like Geoff Marsh who are in their early 20's have to wait to get into their 40's before they get a crack at the first XI.

That is the second thing they must fix.

As hard as it is to get into Team Australia first XI, its even harder to get dropped from it - no matter that one is clearly over the hill. So Hayden, Symmo & other injured players keep playing even as promising youngsters sit it out.

That is the 3rd thing they must fix.

Lastly, Team Australia plays hard and dirty. I'd like to see Australia continue to play hard & dirty. Team India seems to have taken the bite outta Team Australia.

Thats the last thing they need to fix.

Here's wishing ya'll a Very Happy New Year.

Posted by: thirdman on December 30, 2008 3:29 PM

It is Sydney next test, easiet & surest bring in Stev Bucknor for saving Australia.

Posted by: Sridhar on December 30, 2008 3:42 PM

South africa Rule ! The Aussie boys have a big head ! Today I'm proud to be South African !

Posted by: Willem on December 30, 2008 4:01 PM

It all started last year in sydney when the aussies displayed some unbelieable behaviour on the field to win a test match at any cost against india.
Thay did manage to win the match but there decline started that day onwards.The lost the next match in perth which has been there favourate hunting ground for years.
india also went on to win world series triangular series.

Posted by: Pradip Agarwal on December 30, 2008 4:06 PM

Ponting is a brilliant batsman but a terribly inept tactician and man manager. He is a gross liability as captain. This is a time when Aussie cricket desperately needs a captain with a cricketing brain and who is a leader of men like Mark Taylor. We could do a lot worse than picking Tassie's Marsh and make him captain - and he can bowl spin!

Posted by: John on December 30, 2008 4:09 PM

I think the Aussies have had it all wrong for awhile in believing that as the No.1 team in the world they were unbeatable at home in a test series. They have all sorts of headaches as to which players to put in their team where as South Africa's only headache is who to leave out !

Posted by: Wayne English on December 30, 2008 4:09 PM

It is nice to see the debate after only a few losses, as we South Africans have done the "hard yards" for many years now.

Surely we deserve some credit!?

Maybe a "quota system" should be in order for CA - perhaps a few Chinese or Indonesians?

As we've found out, once those guys get a chance they never give up!

It has been a great process, in hindsight!

Once again - enjoy sucking on it, Aussies!

Posted by: Ricky on December 30, 2008 4:27 PM

I well remember Clive Lloyd, then leading one of the greatest test teams in history, being interviewed in the 80's after handing the then Australian team another thrashing.
When asked whether the Australians would ever be able to compete, he replied "These things are cyclical. One day you will be strong and we will be weak." And so it came to pass...and now the wheel has turned again.
One of the greatest three or four test teams of all time has now been all but dismantled. It is quite surprising that the Australians have been able to delay the inevitable decline as long as they have.
The simple fact of the matter is that, as with the Windies in the late 80's, early 90's there is noone there to replace the greats.
Ricky Ponting is Richie Richardson.
Or, if you want to keep it in an Australian context, Ponting is Lindsay Hasset or Kim Hughes.
All the hubris that came from John Buchanan about Australia having two or more teams which could beat the world is now shown for what it always was. All the bleating from media commentators that Australia's dominance had become all too boring, bad for world cricket ( and too hard to continue reporting)has now been superceded by cries and allegations of "who's to blame?" Thet will likely get years to write this storyline as they did in the eighties.
Nobody's to blame. It's all cyclical. All time great players by definition only come along every so often.

Posted by: old fan on December 30, 2008 4:42 PM

Well played South Africa.

It is time to sack Ponting as captain and Neilsen as coach. Someone has to be the scrap-goat and it shouldn't be Hayden, Lee or Symonds. Our performances on Sunday and Monday were simply un-Australian and a national disgrace.

Posted by: Dan on December 30, 2008 4:49 PM

Can't understand why Hayden has been retained
His best days are long gone
They should give a young guy e.g Hughes a chance

Posted by: brian of brisbane on December 30, 2008 4:55 PM

Every nation goes thru ups and downs in sport. The fundamental laws of physics are true in sports too. What goes up has to come down. It can never stay up there forever. Having said that the Aussies have certainly defied gravity - nay, they dominated gravitational forces and stayed on top in fact kept rising. And that is a tribute to the great Australian cricketing system. Unfortunately like in business and in many other walks of life, we tend to get complacent and that probably is what has happened to this system. Why did Australia not prepare for life after McGrath and Warne? The great Australian system has failed in producing even half-baked clones of these two great ones and truly that describes where it has all gone wrong. And the Aussies look an extremely sorry bunch - not used to losing most of the cricketers dont know how to manage it - like the current economic recession. Mental disintegration tactics have left a sour taste in the mouths of the cricketing world. Grace is something which was never present in the Australian cricket system's official dictionary post the Border era. The domination got onto the Aussie heads so much that the behaviour of the Aussie cricket players appalled most - The shoving of the chief guest at the champions trophy, the disgraceful way the sydney test was managed and celebrated - Look at the South Africans today - humble in victory. There are a lot of lessons to be learnt,
1. Winning is important but the game has to be a winner all the time.
2. The spirit of the game has to be upheld all the time. Mental disintegration cannot be a blanket cover for all forms of abuse. When you get it back (Ask Mcgrath) you dont know how to handle it.
3. Above all there is a fundamental principle in life which every one has to understand -- BE NICE TO PEOPLE ON YOUR WAY UP Coz YOU NEED TO MEET THEM ON YOUR WAY DOWN.
This is a great system and I cant see the Aussies languishing like the West Indies of today. They will bounce back maybe even as early as in the next series at South Africa. But they need to remember the lessons from defeat not just the cricketing technicalities but the softer ones too.

Posted by: Akshay on December 30, 2008 5:09 PM

Australia's downfall came from last year's Sydney test when Ponting & Clark started claiming dropped catches as good ones & Symonds/Hayden wanted to bully Harbhajan on the field...it backfired heir moral integrity first which is reflected in their decline exasperated by a corrupt and useless captain.

Posted by: Arup on December 30, 2008 5:16 PM

one reason frequently given to explain the great success of the last decades was to point to the strength of your first class cricket. Maybe the recent defeats indicate a decline. Either way roll on the ashes!

Posted by: neutral gael on December 30, 2008 5:23 PM

Well I hope that this one wasn't affected by "third world" playing condition, Haydos mate anything resembled third world conditions, it was your performance.

Posted by: samvik on December 30, 2008 5:43 PM

The Aussie cupboard looks fairly bare. It is abundantly clear that despite all the fuming and fretting, the Aussies will have to learn to get used to losing more than occasionally. Ponting and Clark will have to nurture the yound batsmen and God and luck will have to throw up a new generation of wicket-taking, match-winning bowlers. It will take time and patience. Above all it will take courageous and self-confident selectors to back raw talent. You will go wrong with some players; all you need to become a great team once more is for 2 bowlers and 2 batters to justify the faith.

Posted by: Harry on December 30, 2008 5:48 PM

Jeesh guys, have a bit of sympathy for your team. As a South african I am obviously elated with our first series win in almost a 100 years.
Yes, your team is in need of fresh blood but guys like Hayden didn't pick themselves. He has singlehandedly saved Australia on many occasions and the vitriolity with which some are calling for his head is shocking. He would be a fool to not retire now, his whole legacy could be in tatters if he chooses to be dropped ignominiously like other great players before eg Mark Waugh.
Aussie have had a run for the last 20 odd years with arguably the greatest team ever (wouldn't it be awesome if they could face the Windies of the 80's).
By all means never accept failure (I have never thought the Aussies to accept anything other than perfection anyway) but take it easy on your chaps. Take it from a country where we are also vicious when the team loses but love em to bits when they win. Several Saffers (inc me) thought we were going to probably get whitewashed (again) this series. Now we're looking at a potential whitewash of Aus. This is where your team needs you most Remember, they're not used to losing so the poor buggers'll be hurting pretty bad. Don't make it worse for them. Advance Australia Fair

Posted by: Corry on December 30, 2008 5:51 PM

Australia needs a genuine allrounder! When last did they have a player who could consistently fill that roll? South Africa have had great all rounders such as Kallis, Pollock and before them Mike Proctor.

Posted by: No friends Nigel on December 30, 2008 5:52 PM

What the..??!! To follow "Peter Who" we now have "Andrew Who"! Desperation at its worst. The selectors have selected players to tour and then destroyed their confidence systematically. How embarrassing. Forget about manufacturing an allrounder and keep it simple. Bat Haddin at 6 if needs be. Pick specialised bowlers,you fools. I hope "Andrew Who" makes a fool of me because nothing can save the selectors. Go mahogany alley!

Posted by: Grumpy Graeme on December 30, 2008 6:19 PM

s for Glenn McGrath's tipping (3-0 whitewash to Oz to follow on from his earlier predictions) well I think I'll keep my money in my pocket. The top 3 in test cricket should now read 1. Sth Africa 2. India 3. The Aussies.
Can't wait for the Ashes ....

Posted by: the fencesitter on December 30, 2008 6:31 PM

Goo-day mates down under .The win of the series today by RSA goes a long way to heal the wounds of suffering over the last few years South Africans had to endure at the hands of the Ausies .Ricky just lacked the ability to motivate his players .Has the players lost there belief for there captain?He is still one of the best batsman.What a shame he did not achieve a double hundred.

Posted by: anese on December 30, 2008 6:35 PM

Postmortem on a fresh carcus is not going to be pretty.

Posted by: Sanjeeva Jayasuriya on December 30, 2008 6:36 PM

Where is Nathan Bracken? He is currently world number two in one day cricket bowling. Why he can not be tried in test cricket? Funny part of this thinking is that there is no one in team, coaches, selectors, media who remembers him?

Posted by: Shane Bond on December 30, 2008 6:50 PM

Bring back Bucknor, Benson, and remind Bruce Oxenford of his contributions in the Sydney test last time against India and the Aussies will again become the (so-called) world beaters again. This is a tried and tested formula of the world chumps. It will work 100%.

Posted by: Amit on December 30, 2008 7:05 PM

now tht the series is gone , the australian think tank must sit and look for a bright future .... i wud say RSA r the best example .... they gave the captaincy to smith when they were struggling .... young players like amla, prince, were selected and showed faith in by the selectors and now they all r starting to perform consistently .... despite of being an indian i dont see the indian side dominant for too long coz we will loose sachin , dravid and laxman soon and then god knows how we will fare against a good pace attack abroad like the proteas .... so the immediate solution for australia is to show faith in players like siddle, kreizja and some young batsmen ... how come haydos still plays in the team is beyond me ... and all the aussies must also understand tht lee is now 31+ and can never be lethal anymore in international cricket ... he can provide experience and hold an end whereas ppl like siddle johnson shd develop under his guidance .... maybe clarke needs to take charge , but seeing the aussie history and punter's ego , wonder if ricky wud ever play purely as a player under someone else's leadership ...

Posted by: harish on December 30, 2008 7:07 PM

Forget the global financial crisis and impending recession, now the ultimate confidence hit for Australia, losing sporting teams.
It's not a bad thing to lose every now and then, so you can really savour the return to the top.
Overall management & leadership - selectors/CA and Ponting, need to accept most responsibilty.

Posted by: Greg on December 30, 2008 7:08 PM

I think the problem is the captain, yes he can bat but his tactics were lacking insight and i agree that he is bad for morale.

Warney sounded like a man with ideas in the commentary box, it's something that we need on the field.

To not bowl johnson late on day 4 and day 5 when he was needed was just crazy.

i do not understand how for example smith late cuts 50 of his 75, there was no answer on the field, maybe ricky was worried about over rates.

Posted by: wayne Smith on December 30, 2008 7:09 PM

Congratulations to a fantastic Saffa team and a fantastic win!

Posted by: Neutralz on December 30, 2008 7:14 PM

For a start Australian players need to become less arrogant; do not waste energy on abusing opposition players even if you are a master at it. Focus on your own game and the results will come back.

Posted by: Andrew on December 30, 2008 7:17 PM

Shane Warnes comments the last time he palyed in SA

"We all know what Graeme Smith is like," Warne said, barely 48 hours after arriving in Johannesburg. "If he's learned any lessons out of Australia - hopefully he hasn't - but he might be better off just being quiet and trying to play.

"At the end of the day, it was the worst South African team to ever tour Australia. They didn't make the finals of the one-dayers. They lost [the Test series] 2-0, and they probably should have lost 3-0. Smith didn't make a 50. He just keeps making these outrageous and ridiculous statements and doesn't back it up."

Warne was just warming up. In an extraordinary three-minute tirade, the record-breaking leg spinner labelled Smith "foolish", accused the South Africa skipper of ruining the career of spinner Nicky Boje, and suggested the South Africa batsmen, en masse, were inept against spin bowling.

"I think he actually puts a lot more pressure on his team by saying that," Warne continued. "He says he tries to take pressure off his team, but he's just making himself look like a fool. I hope he keeps going like that, keeps making those ridiculous statements, the ones that are unfounded.

"Not making the [one-day] finals and losing [the Test series] 2-0? There's no South African team that has performed that badly, ever, and he was the captain. He's got to take responsibility for that. He can try and twist it as much as he likes, but those are the facts

Posted by: South african on December 30, 2008 7:21 PM

You only sing when you're winning. Grow up!!

Posted by: david on December 30, 2008 7:25 PM

All I can say today as a Very Proud South African suporter is well done Greame Smith and Mickey Athur u surely pulled the Mickey out off the Australians.I am looking forward to see us in the number 1 spot. Austrailia take a good look at what we have done over the past 18 months and aplly that to your cricket.....

Posted by: gerrit on December 30, 2008 7:29 PM

Great win to the Proteas but.......what's with the pitches these days. Why can't the pitch change character during a test and give bowlers that extra bit of luck with a bad(or good)bounce. Is it because of commercial pressure that the curators have to provide a pitch, that will make the test last five days. The MCG pitch was more like a bowling green.

Posted by: stump on December 30, 2008 7:33 PM

The decline of austalian cricket was inevitable, because of their unwarranted and ugly sledging policy. sledging is a double edged weapon, and can boomerang.Look at the players it has anhilated. Hayden,symonds are prime examples.To avoid punishment under the laws apparently decent guys like watson and mitchell were given the job in India recently.Unfortunately the Indians were more pumped up after these bouts and gove it right back in words and on the field.ponting needs to go , because in the dressing room meetings time is wasted on who should sledge whom and how instead of on cricket tactics.Go back to decent behaviour and australian cricket will shine againg in the next 2/3 years. otherwise i am afraid even New Zealand will be tearing you apart soon

Posted by: jasbir tiwana on December 30, 2008 7:36 PM

I think its time to be sensible and realistic and make Mike Hussey the captain and shane warne the coach. Warnie is too far gone to comeback to the team even if by some miracle, he is offered the captaincy. The role of the coach would suit him better with a coaching staff that he wants so that he can help cultivate the current and future players better. M Hussey is better option for captaincy as Pup is still to immature for that role. Pointing can then concentrate on his batting alone.

Posted by: rmcf on December 30, 2008 7:44 PM

Buchanan saying it will take 2-3 years more to decide who is No. 1 is like Wall Strret bankers saying funadmentals of the US Economy are strong till Oct 2008......

Posted by: SK on December 30, 2008 7:44 PM

Several Indian fans seem to want to turn a well-deserved victory for the Saffers into a grandstand for their own agenda. Fairly arrogant I would think. Last I saw, SA just won in Aus. India did not, depsite Thirdman claiming that SA "merely reaped" the benefits from India's efforts.

Harish. Your comments seem fairly representative of the tripe the world has endured from a certain type of Indian fan over the past year so, if you don't mind, I am going to point out a few of the inherent contradictions and hypocricies in your arguments.
1)Umpires. If you must keep crying on about umpires, then please stop referring to the Australian team as cry babies. Some decisions didn't go your way. Your batsmen collapsed. That's cricket. Get over it. Stop crying.
2) Sledging. Sledging is bad when Aussies do it, but India are lauded for "standing up and giving it back" to them. So is sledging good when it comes from an Indian then? Please make up your mind. You cannot paint the Aussies as boorish and the Indians as gallant gentlemen when they are both sledging on the field. To claim otherwise is naive.
3) ICC protection under Speed/Grey. Please cite a specific example. If you can, then think about how this contrasts with the actions of the BCCI (who ultimately control the ICC)in threatening to pull out of a tour. Then think about this in the context of boorish behaviour and being a crybaby.
4)See earlier comments on crybabies, boors etc. Think about some of the Indian cricketers in terms of arrogance. Think about Singh. Many cricketers around the world have been "spurred on to teach him a thing or two" including other Indians!
5) Opener. I think you have misquoted him but this is actually pretty funny.
6) Dhoni claiming a catch off Pieterson, England 07. Just one of the countless examples of Indians not walking and claiming grassed catches. All cricketers do it (with the possible exception of Gilchrist). To single out Clarke is hypocritical.
Harish, this is not having a go at you, at Indians or at the Indian cricket team. This is making what I know will be an ultimately futile attempt to make certain Indian fans understand the hypocrisy in their arguments over a Test which the rest of the world has moved on from and is getting increasingly tired of hearing you bleat about.
Well done South Africa.

Posted by: GA on December 30, 2008 7:48 PM

well it seems nobody has been dropped, Symonds and Lee rested from injury. bizarre. the selection of McDonald is sort of innovative, in a Tony Dodemaide sort of way. allrounder fetishism is an itch that some cricketing Lenin will need to scratch, and scratch hard. the selection of Hayden has ensured I will neither be going nor watching. call it spitting the dummy, or just bodysurfing. whatever, Hilditch is a complete clown. the happy hooker. a lawyer. an establishment wannabe. a social climber. stuff him. oh, and he wore that stupid headband when batting.

sadly, there's a sick and depraved part of me that wants Hayden to somehow miraculously discover some semblance of form. so the Poms can dismantle him over there for the fourth time. Hilditch deserves this. all denial deserves ultimate proof.

in the words of the sadly non-Zevon, "send lawyers guns and money, the shit has hit the fan".

one more post to debunk queenslander's lilleechappellmarsh narrative, and then fireworks...

Posted by: peter warrington on December 30, 2008 7:52 PM

ps Hilditch is "acting out". he got dropped twice in a short 18-test career (1073 at 31 with 2 tons). was only 29 when curtailed. was passed on for the younger Boon/Marsh.

maybe it still hurts?

he should sue, the bloody solicitor/lawyer.

Posted by: peter warrington on December 30, 2008 7:58 PM

Now is a time to reflect on the contentious test with India at the SCG. The Australians won the match thanks to some dubious tactics and biased umpiring. When the Indians protested, they were dismissed as sore losers. This was a test India could have won and that could have been good for Australia because then they would have had time to reflect on the chinks in the team and rectified them. Instead the Australians kept believing in their supremacy. When they lost in India they did not want to believe they got out played. Instead Ponting was made a scape goat and every thing was rosy again when they beat an under par New Zealand team. It was only a matter of time that their chinks were exposed again as South Africa so effectively did.

A point to ponder - South Africa batting on the last were 183 for 1 whereas Australia on the fourth day were 180 for 7. Speaks a lot about the ability of the Australian batsmen and bowlers.

Posted by: Sam Randhawa on December 30, 2008 8:07 PM

Well done to the Proteas; by time we managed to match up with the Aussies. Its tough losing but may you go easy on your team.

Posted by: Danny from SA on December 30, 2008 8:21 PM

The lose shouldnt entirely be attributed to Warne and McGrath. Every team has players who come in and go out. But you should have good bench strength . That makes the Worlds Best Team. When Dean Jones , Alan Border , Boon and Marsh left, you had Waugh Brothers, Taylor and other players who filled in their shoes. So today you have Brett Lee, Johnson and others. What is missing in the attack is the ability to Swing the ball. Defensive Bowling is adding to the cause. I have never seen Australian Bowling as Defensive as the past 1 year. Bowling outside the Offstump and waiting for a wicket to fall. Testing the patience of the Batsman rather than attacking his weakness. Australia has to come out of this Attitude.

Captaincy : A Captain is as good as his players. If everyone performs well, the Captain is shown good. If the team performs bad the Captain will be held responsible. According to me, Ricky was successful because of a good team he had. Moreover he is a very good batsman. But his captaincy has been Hyped as if he is the Best Captain in the World.

Other Teams : Australia should also realize that other teams in the world are improving . Even if McGrath or Warne is there today, its not going to be easy for Australia to win a Test Match easily. The 20-20 has changed the dimension of Test Cricket. All teams are scoring 4 an over. More results are being produced. The batting of other teams have improveded tremendously. Its time Cricket Australia accepts these facts instead of saying that we miss Warne or McGrath. I really doubt whether McGrath or Warne would have made any big Difference.

The pitches now a days do not offer the kind of bounce or pace or nip as it used to be. This also helps the batsman. So you need a good batting lineup. Today India, South Africa and England has that. But Australian Batting Lineup is not performing. Your Pup is not growing up. Hayden still looks powerful and strong. But he is not able to take a break which he needs. You need youngsters to fill the gaps and start building a new team.

Posted by: Sundar on December 30, 2008 8:22 PM

Im just glad that the Australian fans get to feel what we felt a few years ago. Some comments are spot on...like get new talent in...drop old guys...

Good luck you guys need it.

Proud South African cricket fan

Posted by: Stephen on December 30, 2008 8:23 PM

The era of Aussie dominance is over... losing 4 test matches in last 6... losing 2 back to back series without sneaking a single test win... without mcgrath, warne, gilchrist, an out of form hayden and not the same ponting things have changed drastically for australia...
But for me the worst thing is that worldwide people feel it as celebration... if india beats australia- britons become ecstatic and their newspapers were filled praising indians... now SA defeating Australia and same happening in Indian Media...
The question is y it is happening... losing and winning is part of game... aussies have been loved all over the world be it steve waugh, mark waugh, mcgrath, warne, gilchrist (to name few)... but this team doesnt have single universally accepted player despite the fact skipper Ponting is definitely the best batsman of the world over last 4-5 years...
We as a cricket loving nation love to see cricket getting tougher and there is no clear dominant force in the world now where 80% of times we knew the world and tired of listening their opponents as under dog... that was boring... more so because we were on the receiving side...
But even now when the situation has changed and infact my country India is among top 3 (yes Australia and SA) still i'm not happy... i want the same glamour in this australian team which they possessed...
Certainly hayden is about to go... and australia can again rebuild a team in one or two years but now they cant be the same force what they used to be... How can any team can be when once upon a time they had one of the all time best fast bowler- McGrath, all time best leggie-Warne, All time best keeper-Gilchrist, All time best destructive opener-Hayden and one of the all time best run machine-Ponting. Such combination in one team is rare...
When WI lost their pace battery and their par level batsman in early 80's they never recovered... its an irrecoverable loss... now same is happening to Australia... It cant be same...

Posted by: Sidharth Srivastava on December 30, 2008 8:27 PM

I found the Aussie bowlers sadly lacking in penetration power - must be the first time in 25 years or more that they have been unable to bowl out the tail-enders. Ricky can ony work with what the selectors give him the problem starts at the selecte level.

Posted by: ben on December 30, 2008 8:43 PM

Australia in this series has missed that killer instinct and were always unsuccessful in driving home the advantage be it perth where they should have batted out south africa out of teh game and in melbourne where they should have had a lead of 170 odd eventually endng up conceding 65 run lead.The killer instinct and the captain courageousness are missing in this Aussie team.

Posted by: dharma rajan on December 30, 2008 8:52 PM

The captaincy needs to be changed but it needs to be someone with significant respect. So id say Warne or Hussey ( if he stays in the team) , if not we have to persist with Ponting.

Slotting in Warne would be perfect and it would solve the spinning problem. He may not be what he was but he is still better than what we have got . 2 birds 1 stone.

Posted by: ben on December 30, 2008 8:56 PM

Just to summarise the whole thing :
1)Remove Ricky as Captain
2)Retire the aging fleet of the Team Australia
3)Infuse the New Blood capable of delivering the results
4)Bring Back Umpire Steve Bucknor who helped us in getting some of the impossible Victories.
Since he is NOT standing in the matched involving Australia we are loosing !!
5) Accept that barring a Few Brilliant Individuals, we are and we were always an AVERAGE side with Above Average Luck & Mr.Steve Bucknor on our side.

Posted by: Rogers on December 30, 2008 9:03 PM

Australia has well and truely lost its aura of dominance. The fact that Australia's tailend were able to score off the south african bowlers showz that they were not invincible, its just that symonds, hayden and hussey, batsman of undoubted skill, just didnt have their heads right.
Australia were out-enthused more than they were outgunned in the batting stakes and the sooner D.Hussey and/or Marsh are brought in the better.
No more are the mental collapses more evident than when looking at the two first innings' when Australias middle order folded and the bowlers (and fielders) attempts to clean up the tail proved diabolical

Posted by: Max on December 30, 2008 9:15 PM

Ricky Ponting is as good as Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor but since the loss of great players in the last few years Ricky is now finding things harder. Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor had so many match winning players to call on how can you not be seen as a good captain when you're winning all the time and easily. In the past a Shane Warne or a Adam Gilchrist would be called upon and they would deliver the goods. Past captains just had to set the field, rotate his bowlers and things would just play out to the tune of an Australian win, that's what you can do when you have the players that Australia once had. The best captain by far in the last 10 years was Steven Fleming from New Zealand. He had very few top players but still managed to compete with the other top nations. He may not have won all the time but with what he had to work with he did a amazing job. Just think what he would have done with the players that Australia have had in the last 10 - 12 years. A truly good captain is one that still competes with a limited player base, how would a Steve Waugh or a Mark Taylor gone if they were the captains of New Zealand? Not as good as Steven Fleming is my guess. Ricky Ponting is not a bad captain but he must learn to get every bit of talent and heart out of his team now that most of the great players are gone. Learn to fight and scrap as a team if you want to compete, but this takes time and is only learnt when that's all have over many years.

Posted by: Troy French on December 30, 2008 9:26 PM

Reselection of Hayden says it all.

OUR SELECTORS ARE STALE.

Posted by: sfx on December 30, 2008 9:30 PM

Everything goes in a cycle and its time some one else takes the lead.
Dont write the Aussies off yet !

Give us a few years , a new warne (hopefully) and a new captain , we will be back rolling on the road again !

Posted by: Matt howard on December 30, 2008 9:34 PM

As I've said before, when Oz loses, be it rugby, cricket, etc. it is never about how GOOD the other side is. When your sportsmen take drugs, or beat their girlfriends, they are suffering from bipolar..(and get their mum to tell the press about how, deep down, they are really good boys)To all you armchair critics out there...stick to your day jobs...if you have one To all you parochial Aussie supporters, join the Bill Lawry club (yeah, the one who was whacked 4-0 in South Africa)

Posted by: jonno on December 30, 2008 9:40 PM

South Africa deserved their victories. They played some of the best test cricket I have ever seen. They are the worlds best at the moment. Australia must pick up their lips and stop being sore losers and just accept the fact that they were beaten by a better world class side.

Posted by: Brad Cobban Backhouse on December 30, 2008 9:46 PM

Aussies lost!!!!!! We beat you at rugby and humaliated you in cricket. 2008 could not be better. Ponting should stop sulking - face it you lost.

Posted by: Anton Lombard on December 30, 2008 9:48 PM

Remove Ricky Ponting from the team and make Clarke the captain of the Australian team. He might be a youngster, however, he maybe as precious as Graeme Smith to South Africa. The way he handled the 20/20 team earlier this year against India was impressive.

Posted by: Ram on December 30, 2008 10:03 PM

Ponting should take all the credit for this defeat... and fall on his own sword. It’s time he went. He’s arrogant, taken the sportsmanship of cricket to a new low during his tenure, and now seen to be a poor leader. When is the Australian Cricket Board going to wake up and send him off the field for good?

Cricket Australia's farm system used to be the envy of the rest of the cricketing world. Any player that made his way through the 'system' into the national side was guaranteed to perform at the highest levels. That's how we became No.1 and stayed there for such a long time.

But nowadays, we have undercooked rookies that aren't ready to play Test Cricket making their way into the National side. Hauritz for e.g., is not test material yet. He needs to get a few more years of Pura cup under his belt.

The other reason why we were No.1 was that we were objective and almost ruthless in our selection process. 5-7 years ago, Lee, Symo and Haydos would have been axed a long time ago.

But who would have replaced them? Refer to problem number 1 for that.

In short, we are in for an extended period of introspection and rebuilding. Better get used to empty trophy shelves.

Posted by: Roberto D'Angio on December 30, 2008 10:33 PM

Kudos to South Africa, outplayed us in every facet of the game.
Hang you head in shame selectors, absolutely gutless leaving Hayden in the side for Sydney. The only reason he should be in the Sydney game is to be farewelled - but I haven't read his retirement yet. What sort of message do you send? Play your arse off in Sheffield Shield and get ignored! Now is the time for setting the foundation for the future, not dwelling on the past.

Posted by: Dave E on December 30, 2008 10:35 PM

Now is the time to clean out and build for the future. Old players can now play on as they are being very well paid. But in actual fact every 37 year old in terrible form is keeping out young capable players. It was better when they weren't being paid obscene amounts of money and had to retire to create a career in something else. At least the younger generation got a go.

Posted by: Phraedt on December 30, 2008 10:45 PM

The sooner Australia admit to their failings the better. Ponting still keeps ranting about Australia being the no 1 side but has completely ignored the shortcomings of his team. Living in denial is not going to do any good!!!

Posted by: Partha on December 30, 2008 10:46 PM

I believe Aussies need to adapt quickly to change which should have been applied long ago. Bring in new talent frequently to build a base of players to avoid sudden shock. What happened in India and now here is a testament to the fact that they kept the same line of bowlers and batsmen in a stretch. The loss of home series should give Aussies the shock treatment they needed to wake to the fact that other teams have grown much better by introducing younger talent and mixing them with senior players. Bring on players like Dave Hussey, Doug Bollinger and the like to bring a sting back to the side.Good Luck in Sydney test

Posted by: Andrew on December 30, 2008 10:52 PM

Problems
1. Picking players clearly out of form. Whilst a "team" game, cricket is about INDIVIDUAL performances.
2. Poor captaincy. Really poor captaincy.
3. A team that has lost its greats against a team hungry to win.

All credit to SA for playing so well and to India for the recent performance in India.

Solution
1. Pick the best players available. On form at least 3 or 4 of the current team should be gone.
2. Ensure the future captain spends as much time as possible captaining his state first.
3. Accept that the 'golden age' is over and realise we can and should be beaten.

Posted by: hunter403 on December 30, 2008 11:16 PM

ok, to the story of LilleeChappellMarsh, and how their sad exit crippled Australian cricket for a generation.

This is one of my favourite fairy tales. Up there with the "Damien Martyn was blackbanned for years for SCG 93-4".

Of course LCM were each icons in their field, arguably each in the best 3 ever produced by Australia (although Marsh's status has receded a little due to the genius glovework of Healy and the extra batsman value of Gilchrist).Greg Chappell is still, sadly and perversely, probably the best batsmen I have seen. And Lillee was THE fast bowler for my generation, express pace and a mean streak, and then stamina and guile (however McGrath's success in South Africa, subcontinent and Windies puts him ahead for mine.)

It's a great story, because the conservative establishment like to wave it in front of the media to justify their lack of forward planning. If too many of our "great champions" leave close together, the world will end -look at 83-4 etc etc.

Let's examine the facts...

Chappell's last series against Pakistan was productive, but his average of 72 was helped by that Bradman-chasing marathon in his last dig. The wickets were flat and the opposition bowling pretty turgid (sadly, Imran was injured). 5 of the top 6 averaged over 60.

Prior to that he had skipped the World Cup, done well against England in 82-3, refused to go to Pakistan, been monstered by the Windies at home, had a strange series against Pakistan (failures and a double ton - discuss), played his best innings perhaps against the Kiwis (176 from 218 balls), and squibbed on the Botham Ashes tour.

He'd also invented the idea of home series captain, forcing Hughes to do the hard work in England and Pakistan.

Certainly, despite the fact that he was still capable of a contribution, by the end of 83-4 he was a lesser figure than Hughes and Border. And given that he averaged 14 against the Windies in his last series, I don't think he would have made much difference in 84 and 84-5.

Lillee, too, had a reasonable last series, taking 20 wickets, but at 31, with 8 of them in the last match, 6 of them tailenders. He'd missed most of the previous summer with injury. He'd also missed the 82 Pakistan tour.

As with many quicks, the decline from his amazing 80-82 level was swift. With his intelligence and experience, I'm sure he might have done OK in the Windies, but perhaps not.

Whatever, Lawson was clearly the attack leader, having been man of the series in both 82-3 and 83-4. And Rackemann was the shock bowler, however he was a plasticine man.

I don't recall Marsh's keeping deteriorating particularly. He took 28 catches in 82-3, some sort of record. He was helped by the lack of a decent spinner once Yardley retired. His batting, however, was deplorable, he averaged 12, 17 and 15 in his last 3 series, with only one 50 in his last 22 tests, a terrible return from a guy seen as capable of playing in the top 6 or even opening.

Lillee and Marsh had something like 160 tests between them, but it's hard to see how they might have somehow learnt to impart the learnings from that onto Hughes and a young team, given their long opposition to him. If Border had led the team to the Windies, maybe they might have been helpful players. But I don't recall any sagacity from either of them when Hughes needed it eg tests 3-5 v England 1981.

Let's also not believe that Australia somehow fell off the pedestal after that series. We were a very mediocre team. The decline had started in 76-7, when we couldn't beat Pakistan at home, and were smashed in the Ashes. After WSC, we had the measure of England at home but not away, couldn't beat India at home, were better than NZ, traded series with pakistan, and were no match for the Windies (although we did nearly steal the 81-2 series). We were the laughing stock of the 83 World Cup due to infighting. Maybe we were the 3rd best team in the world, but so far behind the Windies it didn't matter.

So not much of a fall, really, and not caused, in large part, by the holy trinity departing.

What, then, did happen. I reckon the following played at least as big a part in the Dark Ages, in no particular order:

* some clowns scheduled 10 tests in a row against the Windies, and sent the team to Sharjah to play meaningless ODIers before the 84-5 season.

* the opening slot was a shambles, the constant changing between Dyson and Wood and Laird giving way to the false peace that was Wessels/Phillips - with Kepler injured in the Windies and Phillips playing as a keeper, I think we used 9 combos in the 5 tests? Somehow Dyson was then recalled for the home series.

* similarly, the success of Chappell/Hughes/Border from 79-84 afforded the selectors the luxury of frigging around with the 4th middle order slot, leading to high rotation between Yallop, Toohey, Walters, Hookes, Wellham and Ritchie. oh, and Martin Kent and Trevor Chappell! Probably they should have stuck with Ritchie after his heroics in Pakistan, but Yallop and Hookes were doing Katiches in the Shield.

* Yallop missed 83-4 in the Windies due to injury meaning Hughes suddenly had to blood two players in the hardest arena. The lack of succession planning and the beginning of sendoff theory meant that none of Smith, Jones, Hookes or Ritchie had played a home test that season.

* we lost Yardley too early. his form might have tapered, but he did have success in the Windies in 77-8.

* we took no leggy to the Windies for the first time. Chappelli took 3 in 72-3 and still managed to bowl himself and Stacky a fair bit. We learnt soon that Holland could take Windy wickets - he'd had a great Shield year in 83-4 but they didn't pick him.

* the pace bowling attack was pop-gun. Hogg was still getting picked on his one good year. It was a big mistake, in hindsight, to successfully recall BOTH Hoggy and Thommo against the Poms in 82-3 (Lillee, Alderman and Rackemann were all injured), as they were 31 and 32 respectively. Someone younger could have got the nod.

* and of course the SA rebel tour just accelerated the decline. In hindsight, many of the tourists were nobodies or past it. Hughes might have offered something to Border for 12-18 months, if he could have recovered from the trauma. Alderman was a big loss in terms of the 85 Ashes. Rackemann had great potential. Steve Smith might have been a gun. Haysman had good wraps. Rixon was probably our best keeper.

* don't forget that the bad blood on the 85 Ashes also stemmed from the rebel issue, with Wellham, Phillips and Wood all viewed poorly. Wessels was then encouraged to walk on contract grounds.

so as head to the SCG one last time, I expect to read a lot about the three great exoduses (63-4, 83-4 and 06-7). I'll stifle my anger, remind people that Langer should not have been picked in 06-7 and that Warne's last test was another lost opportunity to dead rubber blood someone, especially a spinner.

But the commentators and the journos and the fans will all nod when it is mentioned that we fell apart because the three amigos said adios in 83-4.

EastAsia has always been at war with Oceania etc etc etc

Happy New Year to all.

Posted by: peter warrington on December 30, 2008 11:50 PM

This loss to South Africa clearly underlines the following equation: Australian Cricket Team - (Shane Warne + McGrath) = 0. Warne & McGrath were the only reasons behind Australia's decade long dominance instead of their well publicized cricket infrastructure. Their high-tech cricket academies which inspite of their huge capital and technological investment including match-situation simulations, have failed to produce a high-quality wicket-taking bowling line-up. In the past, the famed Australian batting line-up used to pile up the runs while their bowling line-up didn't allow the opposition batting to pile those runs; but now even the opposition sides are piling up the runs and pushing the Australians on the back-foot. The strangest thing about the Australian side is that they have the most selfish and career oriented individual of the team as their captain. Australian captains always used to be self-unaware individuals and leaders like Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh. What is more astonishing is that their 'captain-designate', Michael Clarke, was given the honour even before he cemented his place in the side. In short Australian dominance and the Australian era has finally come to an end; and parity has been restored in cricketing world.

Posted by: Subhadeep Ghosh on December 31, 2008 12:02 AM

I cannot believe the narrow minded attitude of the selectors in sticking with Hayden for the Sydney test. Why wouldn't you blood Phillip Hughes on his home ground, to give him some experience for the upcoming series.

The selectors indicate we are rebuilding well. Where are we rebuilding?
Apart from Siddle we have not given anyone under 30 a extended go. Casson sacked fter Windies, Watson after India, Krejza after Perth.
We are behind Sth Africa, and India who boast plenty of youth. If not careful we will slip back even further. Unless we blood talent soon, I can see the series in sth sfrica and England being whitewashes against us.

Posted by: che jarvis on December 31, 2008 1:03 AM

Hello from Durban South Africa. Don't blame your team for thier defeat. South Africa just played a better game. Amla,Duminy etc... have finally shown their worth. They had terrible press here,when they first came to the team. It just goes to show, how tenacious our selectors are. And how the coaches are willing to work with the raw talent South Africa has. Cheer up, you guys will always get more Olympic Gold Medals than us.

Posted by: AngieM on December 31, 2008 1:35 AM

What went wrong? Too many things: for me. Do we remember the fall of the West Indies around 18 years earlier? This is a perceived similar fall from the top. The Australians had a relatively contemporary model in front of them and yet it amazes me, as to how they refuse to look and learn from it. West Indies' prowess fell because of retirements of several "key" members of their champion side over subsequent years, and the same threat was on for Australia too. When Warne, Gilchrist, McGrath, Langer, Martyn approached retirement, the threat should have been perceived and a plan put in to deal with it. Yet, the "wise" men of CA did nothing more, than to hope, much against hope that, whoever they pick will turn into a champion player and a world beater. Common Sense someone?

What worsened things was the attitude of the captain. For a player, who always is hailed as a great captain, he never exhibited one of its leading virtues: foresightedness. As someone, who is so used to winning, and winning comprehensibly, he must have had the sense to understand the value and the effect of the champion players in his side and the necessity to maintain able replacements. Yet, when the losses began to come and come rapidly, he lost his plot, attitude, dignity and respect as a leader. In defeat, he never admitted his own flaws, choosing simply to blame others for the debacle.

We must wonder if like everything good, the champagne cricket of Australia has come to an end. Even though the fragrance is there, the sparkle is missing. Hope someone finds the Midas touch to bring the sparkles back in it.

No better time to wish than now; it is the time of the holidays, the season of miracles!!!!

Happy Holidays Everyone.

Posted by: Christopher on December 31, 2008 1:42 AM

An Indian living in the UK. I followed the so called decline of Australia. The last 15 years have seen some fantastic once in a century type of Aussie players. Sorry, but McGrath, Warne, Gilly, Langer are hard to replace easily. And it is but natural that the team will struggle initially. But from the outside, I see Ponting, Clarke, Johnson, Lee, Clark, Symonds, Haddin and the team is pretty formidable. I am surprised people are trashing Aussies. It is not fair. The reason SA and India are playing well is because they have learnt the game from the Aussies. The aggressiveness, the hard at them attitude is all Aussie. I think the cricket world owes the Aussies more than anyone will give credit for. And also, lets not forget, it took SA and India upwards of 2-3 years to develop their players who are peaking now. Give the young boys another year and I can bet my bottom dollar, Aussies will remain world beaters, For a long long time.

Posted by: MB on December 31, 2008 2:14 AM

So Hayden complained he did'nt do well in India because of 3rd world nation issues such as people moving behind the sight screen.

Then he flops miserably in Australia. So what gives ? Is he waiting for Australias per capita GDP to catch up with that of the US ? Thats gonna be a LOOOONGG wait my friend.

Also Ponting crawling in the 90's & later his post 99 comments (was there fcor 40 full minutes) showed that he cared more about getting to his 100 than getting Australia out of trouble.

Some skipper !

Posted by: thirdman on December 31, 2008 2:49 AM

There only 1 man who can save the team. Warney...Australias best captain that never was. Time for the selectors to beg for him to come back and make him captain. And sack the selectors..

Posted by: John Fairifeld on December 31, 2008 3:12 AM

Hayden should retire and should start playing BOXING.This is what happens when ur mouth does all the talking not ur bat?

Posted by: Sunny on December 31, 2008 3:34 AM

I think Ponting's captaincy has ben poor in the extreme and the selections worse. A lot of what has happened defies belief (don't bowl your strke bowler when he wants the ball but give him the new ball when he has a broken foot). It all seems kind of crazy. But the vitriol is something else. Ponting has always done his best and with 37 centuries for his country deserves more respect. Hayden likewise. Selfish? Why? Do I agree he should have retired? Yes. I think the precedent of overstaying your welcome was set long ago. He had every right to believe coming to India he could perform. I think he scored more than 10 100s in that period. Warne as captain? You must be joking. I think Warne was a wonderful player but his offfield activities ( involvement with Indian bookies, drug suspensions, chasing pre-adolescent fans during hi non-smoking/ smoking period pretty much precluded him from that, lack of humility re Murali etc). I don't like him. He could bowl, sure, represent me or my country, no. For me Katich should be captain but the disrepect accorded to Hayden and Ponting seem undeserved, and the respect accorded to Warne, likewise.
All mumbers of the I hate R Ponting club because he is not S Warne club should reassess. PS* neither Ponting nor Hayden are half the bastman that B lara was- this ain't biased in those ways.
Just sick of the vitiol.

Posted by: Grant on December 31, 2008 3:40 AM

So Andrew Hilditch says that Australia are having, "An amazingly bad run of injuries." Well, yes they are, however I recall the last Ashes series in Australia; England were going though a similar bad run of injuries and were missing, Vaughan, Trescothic and Simon Jones - all key players in the England win of 2005. In addition Flintoff was only partly fit with his ankle injury. Non of that stopped the serious gloating from supporters and media about a 5-nil whitewash by a fully fit Australian side. Now that the boot is on the other foot, I sincerely hope that if the South Africans inflict the first series whitewash in Australia by a visiting side in over 100 years (and my money is on just that) there will be no excuses offered or sympathy expected for missing injured Aussie players.

What goes around comes around, and I hope that when the Australian side has been rebuilt and starts winning series again, there will be a bit less arrogance by everybody Down Under - Lady Luck plays a big part in keeping a team together. As for the "workload" argument I keep reading about - have a look at England's schedule over the past 5 years or so. When you play more international cricket than they do you may have a point!

Posted by: Malcolm on December 31, 2008 3:41 AM

Ricky to his boys while enjoying a drink in the bar after the Melbourne loss

"1) I'm asking CA to convince ICC to let us have Bucknor and Benson as umpires. That was we have a glimmer of hope of competing

2) Let's go back to sledging/mental disintegration(abuse/swear/use filthy language)as it has worked in the past and can be put to test again in Sydney.

3)We HAVE to restart claiming bump ball catches. It worked the last time around in Sydney. Just ask me and PUP to show you how

4) Last but not the least, If we fail to get our basics (point 1,2 and 3)right, guess what, we will actually have to use our talent or lack there of, to win and we all know how that worked for us in Perth and Melbourne.
And please do not forget that we can't blame Brett Lee, if we fail in Sydney (although i'll try my best)

So good luck boys"

Posted by: Rick on December 31, 2008 6:07 AM

Hilditch has got used to having the luxury of allowing passengers on the ship and still winning.

Ponting has got used to his team winning dispite his crap captaincy.

Some team members have been arrogant to the point of putting me off cricket which I was once very fond of.

A good clean out and a new beginning would be a dammned good thing.

Posted by: Kenny on December 31, 2008 6:40 AM

The problem is that the Australian team is practicing too much in the nets and not doing enough of those very intelligent KFC ads. I suggest that for Sydney, Channel Nine reverse the ratio of KFC ads to cricket coverage.

Posted by: Col. Sanders on December 31, 2008 7:29 AM

Like many writers, I agree that the current team is a victim of it's own success. Why is Matt Hayden still there ? Ego ?Success and power are intoxicating and that's the problem. Why drop players who are performing ?This was the critical mistake. We needed to look AHEAD but we didn't. We need to rebuild now . Be bold with selections and don't blood players when they're 30 !!This era of Aussie cricket is over.Sad but true. Andrew Hilditch is in a state of denial. He was a an ok batsmen and now an ok selector--that's all. Fortune favours the brave.

Posted by: David S on December 31, 2008 7:36 AM

In India.

Posted by: Cric7 on December 31, 2008 7:47 AM

Gilchrist was the logical choice as captain, not Ponting. Ponting still thinks we are number one at the press conference yesterday. He is just not smart enough to be Captain. He is no Alan Border, he is not even a Kim Hughes.

Posted by: stephen omara on December 31, 2008 7:58 AM

Bowlers taking all the flak for the inadequecies of the batsmen. Too many batsmen still trying to intimidate the opposition like Hayden is the main problem. You need to drop Hayden as much for the affect he has on his team mates as for his own poor form. Move Mike Hussey up to open to set the right tone. Batsmen won't change their habits and will continue to get roughed up by the Saffers for next 4 Tests. Batting will probably disintegrate against the moving ball in England. 10 Test defeats in a row should probably shake them out of their complacency.

Posted by: LaughingPom on December 31, 2008 8:16 AM

where o where. Look no further than day 3 early. Mitch Johnson was peppering Paul Harris, hitting him twice in the over. So what did punter do? He replace Johnson with Hauritz. The result. South Africa settled to take the game from us. where was the killer instinct needed to win contests like this.
Why did punter make the change. My guess is there was a strategy meeting pre play, where the decision was made to get to the new ball. However a shrewd and flexible captain would have recognized the value of maintaining the pressure when Johnson was having some effect, and keeping the assault up. Poor leadership on field.

A lot of our ills lie in the poor way the team is being led. Punter inherited a great team from Steve Waugh, but the champions of that era are gone. Punter has to stand on his own now.

What we are seeing is that the Emperor has no clothes.

Posted by: Dan Brown on December 31, 2008 8:16 AM

It was the former Indian captain Anil Kumble who showed the australians (in early 2008) that cricket is a gentleman´s game. Soon after the realisation of the above fact, australian decline began...

Posted by: chemist on December 31, 2008 8:35 AM

As much as has been said about the inability of the Australian attack to take wickets it was the batting that let the Australian team down. In the two tests played how many times was an Australian batsman dismissed from a shot that should never have been played in the context of the match? Take the shot Ponting played on 99. As captain he should have realised that Australia had to bat well into the first session of day five to save the game. He should have known that he had to be there as well. He played a poor shot into a packed offside field of the first ball of an over. You saw very few South African batsman play such shots. The 166 scored by the young second test South African said it all. A batting pattern all of the Australian players need to ponder.

Posted by: Phillip Huthnance on December 31, 2008 8:52 AM

The difference to SA series and the Indian series last year which in my opinion is hurting Australia is "No Bucknor". This time last year they would have lost the series for sure if it was not for Bucknor. Well done SA! Go the Saffers!

Arrogance, lack of planing for the future, sitting tight on past glories etc have hurt Australia the most.

Posted by: Harry on December 31, 2008 9:02 AM

Whilst Ponting might be a captain of dubious ability, he can only use the players nominated by the selectors. Herein lies the problem. Cricket still lives by the old-boys club principle and duds like Hayden and Symonds and a few others will always be there to sop up the next tour to England or whatever because they fit the comfortable mould preferred by the selectors. They won't dump Hayden because he has given loyal service over many years and deserves a final year of first class touring to South Africa and England to finish his career regardless of his current form. And so on.
The solution is to dump the selectors and the non-performers and inject new blood into the system in the hope that a new era of performance based cricket will appear. Remember when the Australia 2 side thrashed the Australia 1 side a few years ago? Enough said.

Posted by: John on December 31, 2008 9:06 AM

After reading the interview of Hidiltch, it is very clear where the problem lies.

Selectors. Drunk with ego and living in by gone eras.

Judging from the interview, there is unlikely to be any major change after SCG.

Posted by: sfx on December 31, 2008 9:19 AM

In Perth the Aussies scored 694 overall, and at the MCG 641. Easily enough to secure victory. In both tests they failed to take anywhere near 20 wickets. The weakness is clearly in the bowling and fielding departments.

But this has largely been due to injuries (Clarke, Lee and Sydmonds). SA have won because they're playing fantastic cricket. but that wouldn't make as interesting a news story would it...

Posted by: Paul on December 31, 2008 9:23 AM

A new era requires new selectors with new thinking who are not attached to the past and so loyal to underperforming old players. This Test has been a disaster for the selectors - they look like a bunch of idiots. Perhaps they are. Clearly Symonds should not of played and Hilfenhaus should have come in for the overworked, out of form and tragic Lee. I still do no understand why Krejza was dropped for one poor perfromance whilst the underperforming Hayden, Lee and the injured Symonds were retained. Hilditch's comments reported today only demonstrates how out of touch the selectors are. Its time Ponting makes it clear to the selectors he wants a team to build for the future with more youthful and energetic players. What the selectors do not understand is that retaining Hayden is doing damage to the development of young potential batsmen by his care free approach. Whereas it is evident that we need batsmen who play responsibly, can absorb pressure (i.e. when not scoring), accumulate and can counter-attack when the oppisition's intensity drops. We need a Steve Waugh and Allan Border mentality. Just imagine if a player had given good support to Ponting in the second innings - he may have got 200 the way he was playing and Australia could have set up a big target to attack SA. We need a new mentailty which gets back to basics of hard cricket with no fear of losing. Maybe a whitewash here and in South Africa might be needed to shake selectors and adminstrators out of their complacency. And thats unfortunate.

Posted by: sobers1959 on December 31, 2008 9:31 AM

Congratulations South Africa. Excellent cricket, they proved that everything the Aussies couldn't do, they could. Like attacking fields and bowlers that dug deep to get the best out of the pitch and themselves. Whilst the Aussies shouldn't do laps of the MCG flagellating themselves with sweat bands of players past, the head selector had no idea what shape 'Roy' Symonds was in before the Melbourne test. Says it all.

Posted by: Diggler on December 31, 2008 9:44 AM

Why is Peter Roebuck such a critic of the Australian Team. Maybe he should get off his high horse and realise that any team can be beaten on the day, by a better team.
The only articles I read that criticise the Australian cricket team seem to come from his witless brain.
It seems like he is towing an agenda that should be revealed, as I for one am sick of it.
Try to be supportive and not so critical of our national team.

Posted by: Mal on December 31, 2008 10:16 AM

Time for new blood. All the injured players starred in the IPL, including Hayden who was unabled to tour the West Indies and consequently affected this summers preparation. Selectors should look at the IPL cull the dead wood. Players should use the IPL for their superannutions. This is the season we had to have to bring on changes and a new direction. The shield cricket will have a new spark as state players can visionalise a baggy green up for grabs. Not all is lost, we still have the ashes

Posted by: Baylo on December 31, 2008 10:19 AM

What a bunch of losers (not the Aussie cricket team but you lot). What a pathetic bunch of losers and gloaters. I guess you all below to the Peter Roebuck Fan Club.

Imagine this - take Steyn out of the attack for the South Africans and what do you have? NOTHING. The others can bowl but he took the majority of the wickets. Lee and Clark out of the attack (one with form and the other with injury). Not a great match up. Remove your two weapons and you're left with a toothless tiger. Of course SA was going to win but they didn't do it easy. Had they been such a great side blah blah blah they would have won it easily. They didn't. They had to fight for it.

SA had to do a MAMMOTH job in winning the first test by getting the BIGGEST score in a second innings to win!

Second game - Lee was out and Australia had part timers to bowl the majority of the overs. Excuse me but I can get 76 with my grandma bowling! Good grief people you are full of it.

Let's see how SA go - they can claim the #1 spot when they truly beat EVERYONE on their own turf and in their competitor's own turf.

Other teams have experienced similar situations but I doubt whether any selectors, captain or team of players would have been able to cope any better given these circumstances. It's a steep learning curve for all concerned, including Ricky Ponting who now has to basically rebuild from scratch and completely review previously successful tactics.

All teams and most organisations have to do this from time to time and Australia will again emerge, possibly not for another four years, as the major force in teat match cricket.

In the meantime...THANKS Ricky Ponting and The Australian Cricket team for your outstanding performances on and off the field for the past 20 years!

Posted by: SteveD on December 31, 2008 10:43 AM

Hi Guys - to those of you out there who say that "India have not won a series away from home in ages", please check your facts. Since 2004, we beat Pakistan, West Indies (with Lara) and England away from home. The last test series in South Africa was close (we lost 2-1 after throwing away a won game in the decider), and 1-1 in the series in Australia would probably have been a fairer result. In Sri Lanka, we were beaten 2-1 only because of Mendis. South Africa have a better record (they got beat in SL too the last time they were there) and I would like India to win series in South Africa and Australia before we are considered the best, but I think this will happen under Dhoni, who I consider a better tactician than Graeme Smith (who is also a fine captain to be sure) and he also seems to get the best out of young players (this was the case in the one day series in Australia and the twenty20 world cup in South Africa).
Also some of you Aussie fans, please stop whining about the toss in tests in India. In 2001, your team WON THE TOSS in ALL THREE TEST MATCHES, but still lost the series, and in 2004, you won the toss in the first 3 out of 4 tests (Australia won the 1st and 3rd tests, and was saved by rain in the 2nd). The difference between Australian teams then and now is that the current team makes all kinds of excuses for losses which are only the result of their declining competence.

Posted by: Shyam on December 31, 2008 10:56 AM

Good to see Malcolm (3.41) back. After 2006/07 I told him and other England supporters to stop making excuses - they were just beaten by a better side. Well, same again. Australia have now been beaten by two better sides - that's all there is to it really. I dare say if we gave SA Lee and Hayden and we took Smith and Steyn Australia would win. Fact is though, they have a better team.

One thing Australia should now do is look at the opposition who have beaten them. The star players in both Indian and SA sides have all been first picked for Test cricket in their early 20s if not earlier. By the time they reach their physical peak, like Smith and Steyn, and indeed Sehwag and Gambhir, they are experienced Test cricketers. On the other hand we pick old men - I think I have said it before but when did our selection policy become that of conservative boring old farts?

It is a disgrace that Hughes did not get picked for Sydney ahead of Hayden, even if Hayden does get a 100. We will pay for this in 3 or 4 years. One more point, I think we overrate the Sheffield Shield. It used to be a great competition but now the 'best' 15 to 20 players hardly ever play. Have a look at the current Australian side and see what happens when the top 5 retire or don't perform. Now translate that to the Shield and see that we have managed to produce a second rate competition.

This means there is little advantage to young blokes being left there for years. They should be given a chance to sink or swim with the big boys.

Posted by: DM on December 31, 2008 11:15 AM

The selectors are in complete self denial again. It's obvious as they kept an out of form Hayden and injured Symmonds in the team where they have no rights to be in there.

The selectors should be sacked as if they kept up with this self denial the australian team will be so pathetic that even a bangleshi team can beat them without breaking up a sweat.

Posted by: len on December 31, 2008 11:53 AM

Australia lives on in denial.
Get ready for more heartache.

Posted by: Baner on December 31, 2008 12:04 PM

The majority of these comments are typical of the "tall poppy" syndrome this country appears to thrive on.

Often 'wannabe's' (that never will or never have) provide comment bordering on the incredulous.

Granted this is a forum to vent, however I question how many of the 'venters' possess the 'kahunas' if provided with an opportunity to talk direct to Ponting, Hayden, Hussey, Symonds and co would express as they have written?

I guessed correct..........not too many of you at all

All so easy to criticise from the lounge room chair, the Members enclosure or sinking a beer in the sun.........give the guys a break and show support - not some of the un-Australian drivel I have read posted.

Come on Aussies, prove the detractors wrong and produce a fine effort in the Sydney Test and ODI series.......

and Matty Hayden - score a ton

Posted by: Matt on December 31, 2008 12:13 PM

It was the total failure of the batsmen to apply themselves and to use appropriate technique that has left Australia two down. Despite the obvious failure of the gowlers to break through at various times the batsmen could have put us in a position where we could not lose either test if they had shown appropriate resolution in the secong innings of each test. We should now be nil all after two draws if the batsmen had performed adequately in the second innings of each test and this has been a problem with our cricket for some years with many second innings collapses where there was any pressure applied.
The captaincy was bad in both games as Ricky does not appear to know what to do when we are under pressure, though his batting remains the one positive feature of our team. Ricky is certainly one of the greatest batsmen we have had but this alone does not qualify him for the captaincy.
The selectors are totally incompetent and should be sacked for leaving us with 5 batsmen when 6 could not do the job and for their failure to develop younger players through a range of experiences and for sticking to failing established batsmen and not giving the bright young stars a turn. They have also performed badly in the selection of new bowlers, giving some a half chance and then laeving them out. Our experience with spinners, eg Benaud and Warne is that they take time to develop, but what a pair of devastating players benaud and Warne became because of the investment in their skills.
Sack the selectors and rejuvenate the batting for a new dominant team.

Posted by: bandrew on December 31, 2008 12:14 PM

Any LOSER can call himself a great captain as long as he has warney, gilli and pig in his team!!

Posted by: Abinash on December 31, 2008 12:14 PM

Too right peter warrington, and happy new year to you as well! And Carl Rackemann plastecine man, now thats a bit harsh!

Very true though. Very true. Australia has had its chances to avoid a few black holes, thankfully the black holes have never lasted for too long, on average about ten years!

I'll take issues with Andrew Hilditch after Sydney, that is if Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus are not picked a head of Peter Siddle ... although for some reason, I'd be happy to have Siddle over Mitchell Johnshon ... call me mad or whatever, but I am still not convinced on him.
And hopefully next year we will see the emergence of Stephen Smith, or the re - emergence of Cullen Bailey ... Australia really need a leggie to partner Krejza badly ... but not McGain, please no, not McGain.

But I must say congradulations to South Africa ... your time has come.

I continue to lament the tragedy of Zimbabwe. South Africa proves it.

I agree with the sentiments of many who have hailed the decision by the South African selectors to ignore the selection policy a winner ... South Africa has always been a hot bed of super talented cricketers. They do have on par with the Australian Sheffield Shield, the toughest first class system in the world.

The Zimbabwean first class teams usually come up against these teams.

I will always believe that the period between 1994/95 and 2000 was a period that was setting a solid foudation for Zimbabwe as a Test nation as they had some seriously talented cricketers coming through the ranks.

Given how politics tore the country apart, and then the cricket died as well, if that had not of happened, who knows.

Where is the raised finger of Ponting directing the Umpire to give Indian batsman out and the umpire carrying out the order? Remember the Sydney Test. It is not the defeat of Aussie cricket by Proteas. It is total annihilation.

Posted by: Anil on December 31, 2008 12:30 PM

What happened to the times where the two best teams in the world were Australia and Australia A?
Why can't the selectors see that keeping the "old boys club" together doesn't win matches or fans! If they are not performing drop them. If one of the younger recruits to the team were playing as poorly ar Punter and Haydos have this year, they wouldn't have seen a second match let alone the rest of the year. Also, if the player is injured, put him on the bench! I know Symonds and Lee are very useful, but just because you sit them out of one or two matches to recuperate, it doesn't mean you can't pick them again when they have the all clear from doctors! How are other up-coming players going to get a start?
If this continues the game will die with the current generation of players.

Posted by: Khourde on December 31, 2008 12:55 PM

Why no Nathan Bracken, classing him as a one day player and not giving him a run in test cricket is a big mistake, Siddle bowled well on day 2 of the second test and then nothing, so one day of good bowling, let him play one days.

Posted by: Vernie Ramkissoon on December 31, 2008 1:17 PM

I am huge cricket fan and I have a South African wife to boot but let's all just stop and take a deep breath. They have lost a few games of cricket, that's all. They will win again and when they do, perhaps we can remember that they are not invincible and not have a go at the them for the odd bad day at the crease or a few bad field placements. Just enjoy the fact that they have toiled hard and won. We expect too much because they have been so good. That is cause for celebration, not a funeral.

Posted by: Dave on December 31, 2008 1:44 PM

A couple of things. First, I am sick of hearing about India and reading contributions from fanatical Indian fans who obviously have nothing better to do than look up Australian blog sites and spit out their vitriol against Australians. GA in his blog last night spelt out all the Indian hypocrisies so I am not ging to follow suit. All I will say is that those of you that think that your Indian team can ever dominate world cricket like Australia has are delusional. You will be going through the same dilemmas when Laxman, Zaheer Khan, tendulkar and dravid retire in the next two years. As for Harbajan Singh, Australia's legacy of the 1990's and early 2000's will far outweigh anything Harbajan has ever done or will do. He has brought the game into disrepute time and time again. The worst thing we did in Jan was not call India's bluff and let the whingers go home when they wanted to. I really believe that the appalling way the Australian public and media treated the team in January went a long way in destroying Australia's cohesiveness and confidence as a team.

Second, if we were to lose our number one ranking I am glad that it was South Africa that beat us. They play similar cricket to Australia: hard but fair, and they seem to have a good bunch of blokes in the team, especially now that Smith has pulled his head in and started to captain like an adult. They don't whinge and gloat like England or are self-righteous, hypocritical and delusional like India. However, SA's reign at the top will not last long as Kallis, Boucher and Ntini will all be gone in three years. SA still does not have that one great attacking batsman that change a game like Lara, Ponting, Gilchrist or Laxman. (I have left out tendulkar because apart from his last century against england, he rarely makes runs against serious opposition when under pressure. To compare him with Bradman or even Ponting or Lara is ludicrous).

If you ask me who the next world power will be in four years, I would have to say Sri Lanka. Mendis and Murali will win them more matches than they will lose: the Indians had no idea how to play them earlier in the year. In Sangakarra and Jayewardne they have two of the finest batsmen in the world. The next SA versus Sri Lanka series in Sri Lanka will be worth watching.

Fourth, I am confident that in five years time Australia will be back to number one and it will be exciting to see them get there. I base this on the young talent I have seen around my travels in Australia. First, I rate Hughes a better batsman than even Ponting at the same age. This kid is special and I cannot believe that they did not give him a chance in Sydney. Josh Hazlewood from NSW will be a 350 wicket test bowler. He is bulit like McGrath and bowls intelligently like him. Moises Henriques will be a sensational allrounder once he makes his first century in shield cricket. Steve Smith is rated a better bowler than McGill at the same age and is a superb batsman. Andrew McDonald is an excellent choice for Sydney and I predict that he will be a future Australian captian if he succeeds at this level. Luke Pomersbach and Shaun Marsh will be great batsmen once they learn how to play off the back foot and I rate Hilfenhaus highly. David Warner has Australian cricketer written all over him, while watch out for a kid called Michael Hill from Victoria: a future Australian star.

This team can take world cricket by storm. You guys that are bagging Australia now better watch out.

Posted by: Alex G on December 31, 2008 2:35 PM

Like all good things,finally it must come to an end. Simple fact is there are teams playing better cricket and our champion players have moved on. It's no different to the Windies in the 70's and 80's. Frankly it's good for the game to see new teams at the top. Let's use the oppurtunity to blood the next generation of young Australian Test cricketeers. Case in point: Robbie Deans blooded over 10 new Wallabies this year to great effect.

Posted by: JT on December 31, 2008 2:41 PM

I am at a loss to understand the Cricket Selectors. Here we have a game at the SCG where we have very little to lose. So why did we only leave out two injured players who are out of form? We effectively have the same time excluding injuries. IF we ever put our BEST team on the field, instead of persisiting with players who are out of form we can beat this South African team at least at home.

Posted by: Tom D on December 31, 2008 3:09 PM

Firstly we should sack Peter Roebuck.Talk about jump off the bandwagon.He would drown if the Aussie Cricket team were a boat. Firstly we were beaten by a better side, that said the side is changing due to retirement and some ordinary form. Australian captain Ricky Ponting said it all. South Africa done to us what we have done to the world for the past 15 years. They took the game by taking the opportunites presented or made their own. Good luck to SA. They were a better team, but we will bounce back because we have the best system to produce quality players. No one mentioned the dreadful umpiring decisions that cost Australia dearly. Lucky we aren't as arrogant as the Indians who wanted to take their bat and ball and go home.

Posted by: Tony on December 31, 2008 3:43 PM

AUSSIES HAVE DONE GREAT IN LAST 16 YEARS FOR WORLD CRICKET , THEY HAVE TAUGHT US (INDIANS) HOW TO PLAY AGGRESSIVE TEST CRICKET, BUT NOW THEN EVERY TRAIN HAS A YARD & THE AUSSIES HAVE FALTERED AT TWO COUNTS FIRST LATE BREEDING OF YOUNGSTERS INTO MAINSTREAM PLAY ( THEY FORCE DEBUES AT 26+ AGE) AND SECONDLY TOO MUCH AUTOMATION OF PLAY ESP DISGRACE TOWARDS THE GAME , TOWARDS DAMIEN MARTIN , TOWARDS LEGENDARY SHANE WARNE . SOLUTION , YES BRING SHANE WARNE AT THE HELM OF THINGS IF HE CAN MAKE RAJASTHAN ROYALS THE CHAMPS WHY CANT HE TURN FORTUNE S OF AUSSIES.

Posted by: VINAY MATHUR on December 31, 2008 4:00 PM

When did Australia's top batting last post a big enough score for the weakened attack to defend? Most of the runs in recent innings have come from the lower order. Why aren't people questioning Hussey's position as much as Hayden's? When di he last make a decent score ? His average must be falling faster then the economy.

Posted by: Andie on December 31, 2008 4:09 PM

Hayden, Hussey totally out of form, Clark is in his own mood and seems lost. Except Johnson. bowling looked lack of killer instict which Mcgarth and warne used to provided. Pointing needs to look other options rarther depending on hayden and hussey.

Posted by: sam on December 31, 2008 4:31 PM

Get rid of Symonds. He should never have played for Australia again after turning up too hung-over to play in England in 2005. It seems to me the team has been in gradual decline from the time this arrogant show-pony was put in the team by the mateship system.
And get rid of Hilditch- how does a failed test cricketer get to be chief selector. We are more Irish than the Irish.

Posted by: Frank J. on December 31, 2008 4:34 PM

What with the banning of topless swimming and losing the cricket, Aus is a sad place.Should the government not take resposibility for this sad state of affairs and resign?

Posted by: Boertjie on December 31, 2008 4:48 PM

I offer my services as captain of the Aus team!! I will give better results than punter even if I may not score all those runs. I will charge nothing if my win record is not better than Punter. You guys will not get a better offer; Punter is finished as a captain; the earlier you get rid of him the better for Austrailia and cricket!!

Posted by: betterthanpunter on December 31, 2008 4:53 PM

If we need a new Captain, why not Simon Katich? He has a wealth of first-class captaincy experience, has an excellent attitude (particularly since his return) and is now a stable, regularly contributing member of the team. He is also a year younger than Ponting and isn't party to all the old cliques.

Posted by: Katich for Captain on December 31, 2008 4:59 PM

I don't think Australia started losing now. They lost in 20-20 World cup, In Perth against India, again lost one day finals in Australia against India, and two tests in India. Now they have been beaten by South Africa in two tests.

The selections are pathetic and they should have started looking for younger players instead of Hayden, Symonds, Lee all in 30's.
Where is Bracken no, He could swing the ball better than anybody.

Reading through the comments I can say majority opinion is in favor of -
1) Aussie captain getting the sack
2) defeats being a Karmic end-game for aussie arrogance
3) Selectors and their selection being a culprit
I have posted my view of the Aussie strategy for success. A bit more on that -
1)Four bowlers - Look at the Indian and SA bowling and how it has copied the Aussie model. India has Ishant, Zaheer, Bhajji and Mishra. Of late Bhajji and Zaheer have been scoring some lucky runs too not unlike McGrath and Gillespie. Binga and Warney were better at batting than any fornt line bowling quartet current or past. Now look at SA quartet - Ntini, Steyn, Morkel and Harris. Who would have thought that Steyn would score those runs? Harris is better at batting than he is at bowling which leaves Ntini as the odd man out. But hell SA have in Kallis, an all rounder, that even the Aussies cannot claim in Symonds less his stinkers and fish.
Boucher and Dhoni are as good as Haddin and perhaps better. Rest of the batting sides are again make even match with the balance tilting in favor of India and SA now
2)Umpires these days do to the Aussies, what Bucknor, Hair once did to their opponents.i.e, Take out the best opposing batsman quickly(alternatively give Aussie batsmen an official third or fourth innings to boost their averages)...poor Hussey and Genetically Modified Supersized Yam are finding out exactly what I mean. And yes ...Malcolms(Gray and Speed), the ICC, CA clout doesn't seem to have any moral ground to raise a voice against this obvious crime against cricket.
3) About sledging - The Aussie silence is deafening after the defeats to India. SA captain learning from his past scraps is also singing a different tune - "its an honor to defeat this Great Aussie side...blah ...blah..". Again...perhaps the absence of two Malcolms is sorely felt by the Aussies?

Well be that as it is, the Aussies do have some remarkably talented new kids who given some support can quickly take Australia where they are used to be - Right at the Top.
Only good cricket and spirit of the game are the answer. In todays world Ponting is looking more and more like George Bush and Clarke, Mr.Yam, Stinking Fish and other dogs as his partners in crime. Minus the criminal activities Aussie cricket rules - as always.

Posted by: casper on December 31, 2008 5:43 PM

After going through most of the comments posted over here, couple of interesting things appear.

1.Australians in general agree that Proteas were indeed the better side and beat the Aussies fair and square. Though there were some dodgy decisions here and there, they tend to even out and would not have impacted the overall result.

2. Secondly the Australian psyche still does not comprehend how the hell they were outplayed and out-thought by a definitely strong and rampant Indian outfit, led by the irrepressible MSD. The Aussie public continues to harp on the behaviour of Indian players and the board post the Sydney fiasco. Look, what happened in Sydney was unfortunate and should not have happened. Once it did happen, Indians simplay had to stand behind Harbhajan and use their clout to get him free. Not morally correct, but a natural course. Aussies complaining about umpiring of Asad Rouf, should remember the atrocious umpirining of Messers Bucknor and Benson in that Sydney. Ponting played the fourth umpire and Clarke / Roy did not walk even though the edge was heard loud and clear here in India. My point is nobody is an angel. So lets not crib about how Indians do the arm twisting. This from Aussies who till 90's had a veto in ICC. Times change and how.

While I am a staunch Indian supporter, I know South Africa is a better outfit than India, though not as flamboyant. Indians have a lot of work to do to reach where the Proteas are. The Aussie public should understand that this generation of Indian cricketers have grown up idolizing the Aussies and looking at their body language and picked up a thing or two about the Art of Mental Disintegration. We have the best captain in the World in MSD who takes so many novel options in a game which Ponting would not have taken in 3 years.

Austrlians are proficient in sledging, but dont like when its given back to them. Michael Slater who would not get a place in Indian A team had the temerity to mouth profainities at Rahul Dravid, easily the classiest of Indian cricketers in Mumbai for a catch which he had not taken. But when somebody like Sarwan gives it back to the Aussies, they dont like it. Come on lets put this sledging to rest. There is nothing like having it only on the field. Once its started, there is no limit to it. How can you say what Watson did in Delhi was right, but what Gambhir did was wrong. Grow up you hypocrites !

Posted by: Soumitra Dhavalikar on December 31, 2008 7:30 PM

It appears that the aussies were 'hungry' but apparently not for success at the MCG.

May I suggest that the team focus on the job at hand and keep their eyes on the prize.

Posted by: Greg on December 31, 2008 7:51 PM

they should drop hayden and replace him with phil hughes... build for the future

lee needs a spell in domestic cricket to get his form back and get his mind right

symonds should be part of the squad going forward but only when he is 100% fit and has form... he should play domestic until he recovers

watson should have played in melbourne... we could have used his bowling and he is no dummy with the bat

they should pick one spinner and stick with him. give him some confidence and let him build into our next regular test spinner

well done south africa a well deserved series victory... well done to smith for his great captaincy, his humility and leadership... amazing what can happen when he comes here and doesnt shoot off his mouth arrogantly like last time

dont count out australia... we may be down and rebuilding but we will come back a force dont you worry

Posted by: Roy on December 31, 2008 8:14 PM

ALLOW UR YOUNG AUSSIES TO INTERACT WITH REST OF THE WORLDCRICKET OPEN DOORS LET THEM EARN IPL MONEY & EXPERIENCE, BCOZ AT LAST NO SPORTS SURRIVES WITHOUT BOOST OF MONEY , ACADEMIES COULD ONLY TEACH BUT MONEY MAKES U MATURE CRICKETER.
KEEP AN AGE OF 36 AS RETIREMENT AGE.

Posted by: VINAY MATHUR on December 31, 2008 8:35 PM

well deserved wins for the south africans. australia was simply outplayed. symonds injured, hayden and hussey not in form were part of the problems. ponting decisions to use siddle rather than johnson to bowl the new ball on day5 was bizzare

Posted by: kris on December 31, 2008 8:41 PM

Bring in Marcus North. Problem fixed!

Posted by: Attila in the sun on December 31, 2008 9:19 PM

As a Saffer I am very proud of our team. Cricket may be a sport taken seriously by only a few countries, but it can be a unifying factor in a country like South Africa.

The controversial selection of so-called quota players, have now shown what nonsense the lack of trust in these players were. Politics have played such a part in our sport, something Aussie players have not had to contend with. Let's hope this will be over now and that we can focus on cricket alone.

As for gloating Indian fans, your turn is around the corner. We had our turn with losing many experienced, talented players. Beware that you are not guilty of all you accuse Aussies of, namely arrogance. And you still have to beat us convincingly before you can crow your heads off.

I am proud that our team has shown such maturity and grace in victory. They are an example to the cricketing world.

Posted by: Lara on December 31, 2008 9:43 PM

speaking as a brit, what you aussies have got to understand is that things go round in cycles,its only every so often you can produce a full team of world class cricketers that can take on any test nation in the world home or away and give them a good hiding, south africa have such a team now, as do india, the windies have in the past as has australia. englands time will come ime sure, but as of the next ashes 2 average teams should make for a close exiting series.

Posted by: pete hoggy on December 31, 2008 10:47 PM

I JUST WANT TO DISAGREE WITH ALEXG OVER HIS INDIAN REMARKS , WHY WE CANT JUST DISCUSS CRICKET & CONCENTRATE ON WHAT IS WRONG WITH AUSTRALIAN DEFEATS FIRST WE HAVE TO ACCEPT DEFEAT & SECONDLY THINKOVER AGAIN THAT BY RIDICULING ANY OPPOSITION DISGARCEFULLY IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS OF AUSTRALIAN CRICKET, RATHE A GENUIN E ANALYSIS IS REQUIRED. NO DOUBT SOUTH AFRICA IS A GREAT SIDE BUT THIS DOESNT MEANS THAT DEFEAT AT THEIR HANDS IS MORE ACCEPTABLE THAN DEFEAT AT INDIAN HANDS. SIR SOUTH AFRICA CAME FROM BEHIND TWICE , BUT INDIA WAS ALWAYS AHEAD AT NAGPUR & MOHALI, SO STOP DISGARCING A GENIUNE FACT RATHER CONCENTRATE ON YOUR DOMESTIC STRUCTURE WHICH IS YOUR STRENGTH & NOBODY IS HERE PERMANENT ( FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN POLICY) SECONDLY DOMINATION IS TO END ONE DAY, THESE ARE SOME HARD NUTS WHICH NEEDS SOME CRACKING.

Posted by: VINAY MATHUR on December 31, 2008 10:51 PM

To lose a test it took a superb indivudal effort, ie lara, laxman or butcher.
To finally lose series it took India & Sth Africa to make great team efforts with balnaced young aggressive sides.
Aust needs to put 11 fit players on the field & we will be competitive.
No shame Aussies, just the better side won.

Posted by: Lyle of Nundah on December 31, 2008 11:33 PM

Once upon a time - Australia

Now Lost-Trail-ia.

Posted by: Alien on January 1, 2009 6:38 AM

Hats off the Saffers. The best team won.

Now who to blame? Without going on a witchhunt, it seems to me that there are three lots of people who should shoulder some of the blame.

1. Ponting. As Captain he needs to lead by example and is charged with setting the tactics, field settings etc. His well publicized debacle in India is testament to some poor tactics.

2. Players. The bottom line is that if u r chosen, you play your best. Im not saying any of the Australians were "doggying it" but some shot selection in Perth was a mystery from players who should know better.

3.Selectors. This is where much of the blame lies. The following selections require some explaination, because I cannot fathom why they were made (and I dont think Im alone)

Hayden for Sydney: I know he is a long time member of the team, legend etc but we have a dead rubber. He was allowed to bat himself back into form in the last 2005 Ashes test (which we lost), but now it is 3 years on and times are different, the world order is changing. Hughes from NSW would have been ideal choice to debut on his home ground. He is in form and with an Ashes and SA tours ahead we need 3 openers blooded and in-form. We have one: Katich.

Symonds for Melbourne: Why pick him when they knew he couldnt bowl medium pace and we failed to collect all 20 Saffer wickets in Perth? Im not a huge Watson fan but why did he get overleooked unless they knew he was carrying a worse injury at the toss?

Spinners: White Hauritz Krejia, when will it end? White desnt even bowl himslef so pick him as a frontline spinner in India? What has Beau Cassen done wrong aprt from being a chinaman like Hogg? Qere the selectors scared the Indians would attck him like they did Hogg? No off-spinner will ever bowl out a team in Australia. We need a wrist spinner and with Bryce McG injured, our choices are limited... Smith or Cassen.

Hilfenhaus- 13th Man + plane ticket: Give me a break!! what is it with this idea of picking someone for a squad knowing you will have to fly them home?? They must have know Siddle was favoured to take the new-ball when the side was picked.

What we need are selectors who are prepared top make necessary changes and take some calculated risks. We lost the last 2005 Ashes test in UK because of the same reasons. We had underperforming batsmen in the squad for a test we had to win.Watson and Husset had bioth scored 200's in county cricket. Why not call them up? We had to win. Poms cant play leg spin, play both McGill & Warne.. then we could have collected 20 Pomms and tied the series.

De-ja-vu Im afraid.

Posted by: Mark E on January 1, 2009 3:44 PM

Just as an aside to the great last 2 tests. Has anyone ever seen a more hopeless umpire than Aleem Dar? He's made at least one boner every innings that i have had the misfortune to watch him since the Ashes tests of 2005, mostly against Asutralia. He is so lucky we don't carry on like spoilt lil girls such as the Indians last summer.
As for these two tests, remember in both games, South Africa came back off the floor, so Aussieland is not THAT far away.

Posted by: ThugbyFan on January 1, 2009 4:16 PM

It's about time realisation hits home, batsmen win matches only after bowlers take 20. Sadly, Australia is in a bit of strife, bowling coffers are empty & nothing world class seems on the horizon. It's only downhill from here, Australia will soon abdicate No 1 test spot and would probably be in top 4 in the years to come. With senior batters in a badshape as well, the selectors must bite the bullet and look to fresh blood...in hope.

Posted by: Raj on January 1, 2009 5:37 PM

It's definitely well past the time for Australia to rebuild. There are too many older players postponing their gold watches. No team can be on top forever. It's time to blood young players.

The captaincy has been too negative and conservative.

The selectors lack imagination, common sense and impartiality. Too many out of form or injured players have been retained, while talented domestic cricketers languish in the wings. We obviously need batsmen who can not only score but are prepared to value their wickets. Test cricket is not a slog-and-hope affair like the pyjama varieties of the game. You have to occupy the crease. Also, you can't win if you can't take wickets and it appears the current crop of bowlers are unable to do this (despite Johnson's one-off performance in Perth).

Australian fans will have to be patient while the rebuilding takes place. It will take years and the longer it is postponed the longer it will take to achieve.

Finally, to all those fans commenting about Australia deserving to be humiliated because they sledge or 'cheat', your own sportsmanship is questionable in the light of your comments. I don't support sledging either, but I'm not about to badmouth other teams. I think South Africa, and India before them, thoroughly deserve their wins and the 1st and 2nd rankings in the world. But if you don't like sledging, why resort to it on or off the field? Can't you be gracious winners?

A warning to Australia's cricketing powers-that-be: the West Indies dominated world cricket and neglected to look to the future and rebuild. They sank without trace. In 2008, Australia has reaped the results of too much complacency for too long.

The good news is that a close competition is a good one, whether it be in an individual Test, a series or the battle for 1st place in the world. I think it's good for cricket that other teams are now providing excellent competition. Good luck to them.

In our efforts to look to the future and seek improvement, let's do so with a degree of grace and dignity, instead of endless recriminations, whining or 'I-told-you-soing'. Let's make sure the winner is the great and absorbing game that is Test cricket!

In each test they were gorn. Twice Australia's finest had 'em and twice they got away!

Worth noting Johnners gave Steyn as much a working over as rules allow these days.

Fair to say RSA are in their pomp.

It's been a hilarious few days though.

Bretty Lee bravely taking the new ball thereby denying it to a fit bowler. Nutty.

Hussey's look of bewilderment after being given out after he was well and truly clocked.

Hayden refusing to accept reality and the selectors refusing to take reponsibility.

Symonds selected while lame after being select originally with no form as he continued his campaign to avoid matches against Bangers at all costs.

As usual the extremely well read Warrington's got it covered historically but don't discount Bracken for when they take on old Albion. Probably prejudices against lefty bowlers will limit the numbers though.

Shield Players can once again live in hope. Just ask Andrew MacDonald. By the way is there some law against playing six specialist batsman now?

Bretty Lee and Symonds must be in doubt for the Wales and England tour. Watto can't be a chance poor bugger.

Only The Kat,Ponting and Clarkey are certs in batting land.

Mr Cricket has suffered serious scrutiny. What happens if he has a shocker in Sydney?

Anyhow the fault lies with the batting largely. Someone teach Haurie to take a c and b and they are not far away.

Posted by: Pope Paul VII on January 1, 2009 11:16 PM

there is a pope!

Posted by: peter warrington on January 2, 2009 10:08 AM

Pope P7, you have the Kat as a cert for batting - I have a feeling that he is about to have a bad run. If he has a poor tour of SA, combined with his 2005 record, he should not be too confident yet.

I would rate the Hussmeister as a cert, even if, like 'Oh dear I've done it again' Clarke, he is forever finding new and wondrous ways of getting himself out. His first innings effort, of hitting a snooker shot to the keeper, was a pearler.

Posted by: DM on January 2, 2009 2:43 PM

So they picked Peter Siddle over Ben Hilfenhaus; I am slightly tempted by the dark side of the force!

I will wait until after this Test to decide whether to berate Hilditch and Co ... although I think they have been berated enough.

I can't give into my anger just yet.

Expect selector heads to role before the tour of South Africa and the Ashes ... Cox, gone. Hilditch, gone. Boon and Hughes will stay.

Using the force, I predict Mark Waugh and Darren Lehman to come on board. Ian Healy maybe another name as well.

And for a dark horse selector, Stuart MacGill may just be a bolter for the chairmans job ... that would be one of the greatest irony's in Australian cricket history. Good choice though, perhaps?

What do you reckon fellow tonkers, who would make a good selector?

And kudos to Peter Roebuck on his article on Zimbabwean cricket and why South Africa should stop sitting on the fence, do they fear their next door neighbours one day being good enough to beat them?

If Robert Mugabe falls off the perch soon, we all hope, they may just be a chance.

Posted by: WP Cooper on January 2, 2009 3:04 PM

selectors? the only good one is a dead one, or one I have written a book about.

as much as it pains me to say it, they could do with an infusion of KPI speak, preferably via water cannon enema. if NSW has a State Plan with targets for public transport use etc, it must be possible to set some sort of criteria for selection, maintenance of selection, and un-selection?

I reckon D Gillespie would shoot as straight as he bowled. he also had a yoof identification thing happening well pre-Nemo.

maybe it should be run by consensus, with each state captain represented on the panel. Ponting can sit outside with Calwell and Whitlam to hear the result.

another alternative would be to make it like governance in Switzerland - each State team would take turns to represent Australia - on their home pitch, probably. it would be like the glory days of 81-2 when WA supplied 6 of the test team (sigh, them were the days etc etc)

---

ps keep hearing about that 83-4 trio of retirements, clearly the tonk is not as widely read as I believed.

of course the veneration of LCM and the badging as "dark ages" of the years that followed has a political intent. it makes WSC heroic, and its protagonists the superheroes. it paints meaningful figures like Hughes and Yallop as part of the dark. it lifts Border to a higher plane (and don't get me wrong, his loyalty to Hughes and his batting from 84-88 warrant that. but he was a mediocre captain.) it exonerates the board and surrounding figures for the raft of misteps around the captaincy, selection, refusal to apply discipline to errant team members, the schedule etc. it suggests that anyone who went on the rebel tour was nobody to begin with.

---

and given that we are looking for a period where twin bowling guns retired, surely the Davidson, Harvey, Benaud trilogy of retirements in 62-3 and then 63-4 are a better parallel?

because we certainly flatlined after that, starting with a draw at home against SA, an unconvincing win in England, draw in India, draw in Pakistan, draw against Pakistan at home, loss in the Windies, drew with England at home, flogged by RSA over there.

and the search for a replacement for Benaud encompassed Veivers, Martin, Sellers, Sincock, Philpott and Stackpole.

Mackenzie toiled with the new ball with assistance from Connolly, Hawke and Corling. good, but no greats.

we certainly struggled to bowl teams out - cause or effect???... Simmo certainly bowled himself, Normie O'Neill, Chappelli, Cowper and Stacky often more than the selected "spinner".

there are probably other parallels. Simmo is certainly regaled for his partnership with Lawry, but I don't recall any raves about his first period of captaincy? I suspect Burge and Slasher were kept on for "reasons other than their runs etc", and DM's fave player Graeme Thomas was a then ridiculously late debut for a batsman (he was almost 27 - and Stacky was 25 and a half - but other debutants in that era were Redders 22.5, Cowper 23.75, Chappelli 21.2, Dougie 19.1, Watson 21.75, Sheahan 21.25 and Joslin 20 - DM stands proven correct on the new conservatism of Australian cricket.)

---

and on that note, P Hughes would be fairly normal if debuted now, there would be about 6 batsmen picked pre-21 going back to Chappelli's debut, which is now 44 years ago, eerie, since I am about to be 44. Dougie, Joslin, Davis, and I'm pretty sure Waugh, Martyn and Ponting, but someone else can check, cricinfo are going to start charging me rent.

Posted by: peter warrington on January 2, 2009 8:49 PM

The logic of the Australian selectors is beyond belief.

Lets keep Hayden in as he has experience and will be able to assist the younger players coming into the team.

Hayden has scored virtually no runs and the team has lost test matches and series so his experience isn't really helping to win games is it and his lack of runs isn't really helping either so why is he still there. Could the Australian team do any worse than losing test matches and series if Hayden was out of the team? In we lose out we MAY lose result bye bye Hayden the MAY wins!

As for support from Symonds well Symonds is about the worst role model OZ cricket has had in some time so his supporting Hayden as a role model should actually be a negative to Hayden's career!! Warne wasn't exactly a great role model but at least he put in 100% to playing for OZ. I don't think he went fishing during a training session!

Getting a reference from Symonds for a role model is like getting a reference from Chopper to work as a bank teller!

Posted by: Goparra on January 3, 2009 12:05 AM

DM - Indeed the Kat may endure a bad run and more probs emerge.

I Worry about the Hussite. Needs a score.

Anyway they've had a dream run, It's nothing if no interesting.

WP- The Tonk Committee.

Posted by: Pope Paul VII on January 3, 2009 12:06 AM

Generally speaking, the difference between a draw and a win, is the bowlers. The difference between a draw and a loss, is the batsmen.

The results of the last year or so speak for themselves. The all rounder experiment has failed. We are not getting enough runs from our top 6, to afford the luxury of an all rounder (let alone one who is too unfit to bowl anyway) over a specialist batsman.

With the batting talent available in Australian domestic cricket, it is embarrassing to have lost so many test matches lately (and our scores against New Zealand weren't exactly great either).

Our first priority through this rebuilding process, should be to establish a top six that can occupy the crease long enough to not lose matches. This will provide a far less pressured environment for up and coming bowlers to learn what it takes to take 10 second innings wickets.

So long Hayden and Symonds. And Mr Cricket: watch out for your brother.

As for our bowling attack, I do not rate Lee ahead of Kasprowicz or Bichel, who were solid support bowlers to McGrath, Gillespie and Warne. And yet Lee is supposedly the best bowler in Australia.

That only confirms my thoughts that we should currently be focused on the top 6, and drawing Tests, to provide a reassuring platform to rebuild our bowling attack.

Posted by: Mining Man on January 4, 2009 10:51 AM

yes, Hussey is just getting slower and slower, a fact I remarked upon a few weeks back. and seeing hand grenades in gentle tweakers. could do with some Shield rather than giggle cricket?

Ronnie McDonald was alleged to bowl 127km/h today but I reckon Greg Blewett had him covered by a yard.

what did everyone think of Bollinger? he ran in hard, but seemed a bit more puff than Billy?

Posted by: peter warrington on January 4, 2009 7:56 PM

Peter W, in your talk of the 60s you mentioned Johnny Martin. Like Bankstown's mighty G Thomas, Martin too was one of my all time favourites - the ultimately attacking cricketer, whether batting (he was a famous six hitter, with a bat that weighed about half of what they have now, and of course in those days you actually had to hit the ball over the fence), bowling his spinners, tossing the ball higher and higher until they nearly stopped completely, and fielding close in at short leg with no protection at all.

And to play grade cricket for the mighty Petes he used to drive down from somewhere near Taree in his VW every Saturday in the days before freeways, and then home again afterwards. And he's probably the last player I have seen who used to flick his ciggie away as he walked through the gate going out to bat.

By the way, when you have written your selection book, you might then like to write the story of Grahame Thomas touring Saffrica in 66/67, in the height of apartheid. Thomas had (has I should say)skin at least as dark as Duminy. It must have been a bit of a shock to the Afrikaaners when he showed up.

Posted by: DM on January 5, 2009 3:41 PM

Ah Pope, if the shanagans that have gone on the tonk thread board are anything to go by, and yours truly has been apart of them well and truly ... if we were the selection committee, there truly would be war in the galaxy!

OK, I am eating a little bit of humble pie over Peter Siddle, he has won me over ... to get those wickets on a lifeless pitch means he does have that something extra.

Dougie Bollinger was good also, but I am sure at one stage he was about to pick up Billy Bowden and throw him like a javelin, or at least give him a few more bent fingers! What a dreadful umpire he is ... a mockery to the most thankless task in world sport!

The big question is, will Matty Hayden call it a day ... or the other question could be, does anyone care?

I too am having questions over Mike Hussey as well ... expecting big changes after the Ashes ... Hussey could be one of those to go, as well as a no return for Binga.

My money is on the likes of D Hussey, Hughes, Henriques, Marsh, Stephen Smith (who will be a bonus leggie ... the force is strong with him) and Warner ... who interestingly is yet to play a first class match ... ??? Some explanation is needed from the NSW selectors ... to be debuting through out the year.

Ponting however is looking as good as ever ... perhaps he could drop down the order at some stage, because there is no doubt he still has it.

Beau Casson has disappeared. Where on earth is he? Cullen Bailey, does anyone know ...?